ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT (FY 2016 – 17) Improving Sex Ratio and Implementation of PC PNDT Act Introduction India’s declining child sex ratio speaks of a culture in which gender inequality is deeply ingrained. Gender biased sex selection is a manifestation of the subordinate status of women in society, with far reaching socio-demographic consequences. Gender equality and gender justice is a direct casualty of this practice. The major contributory factors seem to be deeply entrenched son preference, rapid fertility decline and access to technology and its misuse. In recent years, the use of ultrasound technology has become the most common mode of sex determination that allows families to act on their preference for sons, often at the cost of daughters. Scenario in Odisha: Census of India figured over the past three decades also mention the vulnerable districts are no more confined to Angul, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal and Ganjam as can be seen in 2001, but have expanded to other districts of Deogarh, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jajpur, Khordha, Jagatsingpur, Puri and Sambalpur that are performing below the state average of 941. The map below clearly depicts the falling child sex ratio in the context of Odisha. The last 6 decades census figures also speak of the bleak picture of girls in the age group of 0 – 6 years. 1 Page ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT: Improving Sex Ratio and Implementation of PC PNDT Act (2016 – 17) AN atfemales birth increases. population to double its size given a rate of population growth) rises as the ratio of males to number of years required for the ti For example, critical the demographic measures. ‘‘doubling The sex ratio at birth also affects to the number of female births. number of male births relative determined, in composition part, of a by population the is the previous years. ratio at birth below The 950 sex districts marked a decline in sex been declining until 2014. Most shows that the state figure had The sex ratio at birth (SRB) that is an important demographic indicator reflected at Graph 1 Improving onthe departmentsis convergence other efforts with advocacy for community action to address gender discrimination and gender biased sex selection, and (c) monitoring of PCPNDT Act implementation, (b) addressing equity demand side with through initiating a three focusing on pronged changing social norms and culture while fighting for policies that strategy promote gender (a) addressing The supply state side government through has s been taking initiatives to address declining child sex ratio by me’’ of a population (the - - - - - - 60 50 40 30 20 10 10 20 N 0 UAL ACTIVITY REPORT ACTIVITY UAL Nayagarh -49 Sex Ratio at Birth: Birth: at Ratio Sex Dhenkanal -48 Angul -48 Ganjam -31 Deogarh -29 Kalahandi -27 : Cuttack -25 Improving Sex Ratio and and Ratio Sex Improving during during Sundergarh -24 Sambalpur -19 - Rayagada -16 Sonepur -15 860 870 880 890 900 910 920 Kendrapara -14 Bolangir -12 2010 911 Jajpur -11 Khurda -10 2011 Implementation of PC PNDT Act PNDT PC of Implementation 902 Kandhamal -8 Source : Civil Registration System Registration :Civil Source Jharsuguda -6 2012 Sex Ratio at Birth atRatio Sex Koraput -4 896 Bhadrak -1 2013 Nabarangapur -1 890 Balasore -1 2014 Baragarh 0 880 sue.. sue.. - Puri 1 Odisha 2015 Gajapati 3 913 Jagatsinghpur 3 2016 Mayurbhanja 4 ( 2016 2016 914 Keonjhar 5 Malkanagiri 10 trengthening – Nuapada 12 17) Boudha 12 ODISHA ODISHA Odisha -12 Page2 Strategic interventions were undertaken at village level 2014 onwards choosing lowest 500 villages below 900. Rounds of discourse with these villages were undertaken involving key service providers at village level to self asses the status of girls and orient on the measures to be taken. Simultaneously district level interventions including multi pronged approach were also undertaken. The marked difference can be gauged from the state figures during 2015 and 2016 and the district wise figure at Graph 2. NFHS 4 also validates the improving sex ratio at birth in the context of Odisha, showing its mark at 936. SRB Analysis from Civil Registration System Data 1200 987 974 974 970 964 961 960 959 956 954 948 945 943 939 952 923 925 907 1000 898 876 866 859 844 800 600 2014 400 2015 200 2016 0 Institutional mechanism Institutional mechanisms for act implementation strengthened statutory bodies like State Supervisory Board, Advisory Committees. District Collectors and Sub – Collectors have been notified as Appropriate Authorities and have been oriented on their roles and responsibilities. They are regularly updated on action to be taken at their end to check sex selection practices and for attention towards schemes and programs for girl child and women. Regular reviews and meetings are being organized at State and District levels. State Supervisory Board (SSB) has been constituted on 13.6.2003 and reconstituted vide notification No. 24370/H dated 17.9.14. SSB meeting scheduled on 21.6.17. State Advisory Committee constituted on 27.12.2001 and reconstituted Vide Notification No. 30208 / H & FW Dept. dated 01.12.14. The last SAC meeting was held on 19.11.16. District Advisory Committee constituted as per Sec 17 (6) 3 of PC PNDT Act. They have been reconstituted in all districts Page ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT: Improving Sex Ratio and Implementation of PC PNDT Act (2016 – 17) Registration and Renewal Till March 2017, 913 facilities have been registered since the inception of the Act. 83 applications of registration have been rejected by appropriate authorities since the inception of the Act. 340 renewals have been provided to different ultrasound centres. 145 suspensions or cancellations of registration under section 20 of the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 have been reported in the state. Six Month’s Training and Competency Based Evaluation SCB MCH - Cuttack, VSS MCH - Burla, MKCG MCH – Berhampur & IGH, Rourkela , the MCI recognized institutes have been notified as accredited institutions for six months training on Ultrasonography. and Competency Based Evaluation Six month training being imparted. 55 performing doctors completed Six Month’s Training on USG in 2 batches Competency based evaluation for on-going performing doctors. 108 out of 111 doctors cleared the CBE. Process started for 3rd batch of CBE Legal Actions and Court Cases 64 cases filed since the inception of the Act against owners and doctors. 3 doctors convicted. 20 appeals disposed u/s 19 of the Act. State Medical Registration Council intimated u/s 23 (2) to take action. Departmental proceeding initiated against 7 Government doctors. Community Interventions for Improving Sex Ratio As per the census report 2011, five hundred villages have been identified having low child sex ratio. Intensive drive was started in the said villages from 2014-15 to address the above issue. Week long Save Girl child campaigns have been organized for value Girl child during 2015- 2016. Districts report improvement in sex ratio in most of the pilot villages. With support of UNFPA, district wise child sex ratios where mapped up to village level for all 30 districts to assess intra district variation in child sex ratios. This has been disseminated to the districts for greater awareness at the district level. Apart from these, other interventions include - 1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign launched in Nayagarh 2. Biju Kanya Ratna Yojana in 3 low CSR districts - Angul, Dhenkanal and Ganjam 4 Page ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT: Improving Sex Ratio and Implementation of PC PNDT Act (2016 – 17) 3. Review of policy interventions through Girl Child Task Force under the Chairpersonship of Chief Secretary – every 6 months 4. Convergence with other Depts. and training institutions 5. Complaint Box set up at strategic locations 6. Planning and implementation based on data from HMIS, MCTS and CRS 7. Community level action initiated to address Gender Biased Sex Selection in 23 districts. Yearlong Save the Girl Child campaign completed in 342 out of 500 vulnerable villages 8. IEC materials developed and disseminated 9. Regular advertisements in print and electronic media 10. Video Documentary shows, TV spots, Radio Jingles, use of folk media, street plays 11. Display boards and hoardings at strategic locations, use of village “Swasthya Kantha”, wall painting at public places 12. PC&PNDT Website for sharing of knowledge and information 13. Rallies, awareness building programmes at different levels 14. Tabloid during observance of Republic day parade at state and district level 15. Campaign on Value of Girl Child in all 30 districts 16. Media campaign via All India Radio, FM channels & TV 17. Documentary shows on Save the girl child at community level 18. Dissemination of leaflets, FAQs, posters 19. Hoardings & wall painting at strategic locations Trainings and Capacity Building 1. One Day Training –cum- Review meeting of ADMO (FW) – cum- District Nodal officers for Maintenance of Records and Strengthening Reporting mechanism. 2. One Day Training –cum- Review meeting of District Personnel dealing with PC PNDT files 5 Page ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT: Improving Sex Ratio and Implementation of PC PNDT Act (2016 – 17) 3. Training of 170 prosecuting Officers of cognizance taking courts on provisions of PC PNDT and stock taking of cases filed with support from Directorate of Public Prosecution 4. Two batches of training of 60 Judicial Officers (SDJM and JMFC) of cognizance taking courts on PC PNDT Act and relevant judgments from Odisha 5. Awareness of DPM and DAM on Checklist for registering