Kolhapur: To overcome the rising issue of illegal sex determination and sex-selective abortions, Maharashtra’s Health Minister, Prakash Abitkar announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each for informants and pregnant women acting as decoys who provide the right information and expose such rackets. Also, pregnant women reporting such offenses will be eligible for the reward.
Due to an increasing shift in the child-sex ratio and societal impact, this decision was taken to address gender imbalance. Maharashtra, like other parts of India, has seen families favouring male children over female foetuses.
Across India and Maharashtra, the growing number of such illegal activities is a cause for concern. We are going to strengthen the system. We will constitute committees, from village to district level, to keep a check on such activitiesPrakash Abitkar, Health Minister of Maharashtra
Maharashtra’s child sex ratio (0-6 years), as per the 2011 Census was 894 females per 1,000 males, lower than the national average. Data from the 2019-2020 National Family Health Survey-V showed sex ratio at birth was 913 girls per 1000 boys. However interestingly, in rural areas, the ratio was more favorable to girls (941:1000) than in urban centers (878:1000).
Maharashtra is not the first state to adopt such measures. States like Karnataka, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh already offer Rs.1 Lakh cash rewards to whistleblowers. Delhi provides ₹2 lakh, with an additional ₹50,000 for successful raids involving informants and decoys.
This initiative is expected for the public to identify and bust illegal activities, while also promoting gender equality.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Disha Merlyn Mathias/MSM)