Has Punjab’s Sex Ratio Improved?

Well, it seems like the sex ratio in Punjab is not improving despite the number of trees Mrs. Badal is planting and the SGPC’s desire to raise unwanted girl children.

The Tribune
reports:

In 2001, the census of India recorded Punjab’s sex ratio at 876 females for 1,000 males, one of the worst in the country. The preliminary findings of a Lucknow-based agency AMS engaged by the government to assess the current situation shows that sex-ratio in many districts of the state has plummeted further.

First, AMS’s study has called out the Punjab government’s bluff in data collection.  Apparently, the data collected by Punjab government agencies painted “… an unbelievably rosy picture of the situation”.  The Social Security Department and Health Department have reported two different results.  These results also do not match those of AMS.

Interestingly, a Punjab government health official says: “Our data cannot be relied upon” … the figures gathered by the department through the auxiliary nursing midwives (ANMs) and the one gathered by the Department Of Social Security through the anganwadi workers for the same areas did not match.

Okay so the data in the first place was unreliable.  To be honest, I am not shocked and doubt others are falling out of their chairs.  So, let’s move onto how bad it really is has become.

  • In Faridkot district, the sex ratio went from 883 in 2001 to 844 in 2008.  In its rural belt there has been a sharp decline from 820 in 2001 to 800.  However, its urban areas have shown an improvement from 797 in 2001 to a current 833.
  • In Ropar the AMS data has shown no improvement in the sex ratio. In 2001 the data was 871 females for every 1,000 males.  Today, the numbers are relatively the same.
  • For Patiala the data shows a slight decline in sex ratio from 2001 when it stood at 868 and now it is just above 860.

To add some more confusion or “hope”, the SRS data collected by the government of India shows an improvement in the final pan-state outcome.  According to Dr. VK Goyal, State Nodal Officer, Punjab’s ratio has improved from 796 in 2001 to 838 in 2007 for the 0-4 years age group.  All I say is,            “challo … let’s see”.


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13 Responses to “Has Punjab’s Sex Ratio Improved?”

  1. chivasregal says:

    I am relatively new to this blog so it might be that this topic has also been discussed elsewhere; but it disturbs me that others that we will take every opportunity to rile against the Indian government, the Congress Party ,Akalis,the SGPC etc but when it comes to something that we are doing to ourselves we remain silent. If these sex ratios continue we will cause the collapse of Sikh/Punjabi society. Could it be we all have this dirty little secret in our own family history and that is why we remain silent?

  2. chivasregal says:

    I am relatively new to this blog so it might be that this topic has also been discussed elsewhere; but it disturbs me that others that we will take every opportunity to rile against the Indian government, the Congress Party ,Akalis,the SGPC etc but when it comes to something that we are doing to ourselves we remain silent. If these sex ratios continue we will cause the collapse of Sikh/Punjabi society. Could it be we all have this dirty little secret in our own family history and that is why we remain silent?

  3. Suki says:

    I am relatively new to this blog so it might be that this topic has also been discussed elsewhere; but it disturbs me that others that we will take every opportunity to rile against the Indian government, the Congress Party ,Akalis,the SGPC etc but when it comes to something that we are doing to ourselves we remain silent.

    The sad thing is that this is the way when it comes to many problems in the punjabi sikh community is to find someone or blame the messanger.

    This should be the most important issue for the punjabi sikh community but it seems like many don't care. Many reports the past decade have come about the male/female birth ratio in Punjab is the worse in the world.

    I bet if you looked at major punjabi communties in the west like Vancouver, Toronto, Northern California and London you would find a birth ratio in the punjabi sikh community would favors males then it would in other communities in the same area.

    But sadly this is becoming the new holocaust in the punjabi sikh community but its seems little is being since we are doing it to our selfs.

    From my own personel experience I have one child a girl and I have lost count how many times random punjabi ask me when I'm gonna have a son. Some people even told me that would pray at the local gurdwara that I would have a boy. I've been told that my life is incomplete without having a son. Where as among non punjabi's ask me if I will have another child instead of asking if I will have a boy.

  4. Suki says:

    I am relatively new to this blog so it might be that this topic has also been discussed elsewhere; but it disturbs me that others that we will take every opportunity to rile against the Indian government, the Congress Party ,Akalis,the SGPC etc but when it comes to something that we are doing to ourselves we remain silent.

    The sad thing is that this is the way when it comes to many problems in the punjabi sikh community is to find someone or blame the messanger.

    This should be the most important issue for the punjabi sikh community but it seems like many don’t care. Many reports the past decade have come about the male/female birth ratio in Punjab is the worse in the world.

    I bet if you looked at major punjabi communties in the west like Vancouver, Toronto, Northern California and London you would find a birth ratio in the punjabi sikh community would favors males then it would in other communities in the same area.

    But sadly this is becoming the new holocaust in the punjabi sikh community but its seems little is being since we are doing it to our selfs.

    From my own personel experience I have one child a girl and I have lost count how many times random punjabi ask me when I’m gonna have a son. Some people even told me that would pray at the local gurdwara that I would have a boy. I’ve been told that my life is incomplete without having a son. Where as among non punjabi’s ask me if I will have another child instead of asking if I will have a boy.

  5. phulkari says:

    I agree, the real solution is a family-based solution. We have to begin in our own homes and our "leaders" need to create institutions that show the same value for females; rather than planting trees.

  6. phulkari says:

    I agree, the real solution is a family-based solution. We have to begin in our own homes and our “leaders” need to create institutions that show the same value for females; rather than planting trees.

  7. navjeet says:

    This is an issue about which we have been in denial. This has always been important.

    That is why this is the only reason in the Sikh rehat that we are supposed to not have relations with someone. ("l. A Sikh should not kill his daughter; nor should he maintain any relationship with a killer of daughter." from http://www.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_four.ht

    So if the SGPC is serious it should talk about this at each gurdwara.

  8. navjeet says:

    This is an issue about which we have been in denial. This has always been important.

    That is why this is the only reason in the Sikh rehat that we are supposed to not have relations with someone. (“l. A Sikh should not kill his daughter; nor should he maintain any relationship with a killer of daughter.” from http://www.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_four.html)

    So if the SGPC is serious it should talk about this at each gurdwara.

  9. BHATTI says:

    I am relatively new to this blog so it might be that this topic has also been discussed elsewhere; but it disturbs me that others that we will take every opportunity to rile against the Indian government, the Congress Party ,Akalis,the SGPC etc but when it comes to something that we are doing to ourselves we remain silent.

    The sad thing is that this is the way when it comes to many problems in the punjabi sikh community is to find someone or blame the messanger.

    This should be the most important issue for the punjabi sikh community but it seems like many don’t care. Many reports the past decade have come about the male/female birth ratio in Punjab is the worse in the world.

    I bet if you looked at major punjabi communties in the west like Vancouver, Toronto, Northern California and London you would find a birth ratio in the punjabi sikh community would favors males then it would in other communities in the same area.

    But sadly this is becoming the new holocaust in the punjabi sikh community but its seems little is being since we are doing it to our selfs.

    From my own personel experience I have one child a girl and I have lost count how many times random punjabi ask me when I’m gonna have a son. Some people even told me that would pray at the local gurdwara that I would have a boy. I’ve been told that my life is incomplete without having a son. Where as among non punjabi’s ask me if I will have another child instead of asking if I will have a boy.

  10. BHATTI says:

    I am relatively new to this blog so it might be that this topic has also been discussed elsewhere; but it disturbs me that others that we will take every opportunity to rile against the Indian government, the Congress Party ,Akalis,the SGPC etc but when it comes to something that we are doing to ourselves we remain silent.
    The sad thing is that this is the way when it comes to many problems in the punjabi sikh community is to find someone or blame the messanger.
    This should be the most important issue for the punjabi sikh community but it seems like many don’t care. Many reports the past decade have come about the male/female birth ratio in Punjab is the worse in the world.
    I bet if you looked at major punjabi communties in the west like Vancouver, Toronto, Northern California and London you would find a birth ratio in the punjabi sikh community would favors males then it would in other communities in the same area.
    But sadly this is becoming the new holocaust in the punjabi sikh community but its seems little is being since we are doing it to our selfs.
    From my own personel experience I have one child a girl and I have lost count how many times random punjabi ask me when I’m gonna have a son. Some people even told me that would pray at the local gurdwara that I would have a boy. I’ve been told that my life is incomplete without having a son. Where as among non punjabi’s ask me if I will have another child instead of asking if I will have a boy.

  11. an Indian Sikh says:

    Completely with you, Bhatti!

  12. an Indian Sikh says:

    Completely with you, Bhatti!

  13. bao cao su says:

    it comes to something that we are doing to ourselves we remain silent. If these sex ratios continue we will cause the collapse of Sikh/Punjabi society. Could it be we all have this dirty little secret in our own family history and that is why we remain silent?
    Read more at am dao gia