Chandigarh, January 9: Patting the back of employees ofSocial Security, Women and Child Development department, Cabinet Minister Mrs.Aruna Chaudhary, today said that with the concerted efforts under 'BetiBachao-Beti Padhao, a continuous increase in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) has beennoticed.
Mrs. Chaudhary said that Child Sex Ratio at birth hasimproved by 19 points i.e. from 901/1000 in 2018-19 to 920/1000 in 2019-20 asper statistics given by HMIS of Department of Health and Family Welfare. Theimprovement has been noticed from 2013-14 onwards. SRB increased to 901/1000during financial year 2018-19 from 890/1000 of financial year 2013-14.
The minister said that under this scheme, numerous activitieshave been performed throughout the state, with objective to improve sex ratioin the state of Punjab, which included; Celebration of National Girl Child Day,Road Shows, Marathons and Rallies under outreach activities, Wall Paintings,Distribution of Blankets along with special celebration of Lohri Festival onthe Birth of Girl Child and celebration of International Women Days etc.
She said that we havefelicitated the families of girl children born between January 13, 2019 toJanuary 7, 2021 on Lohri Festival and such events will also be organized atvarious places throughout the state to celebrate the birth of girl child.
Mrs. Chaudhary informed that extensive media campaigns arebeing undertaken at village, block and district level in form of distributionof Pamphlets, painting of wall layers running of Mobile Exhibition Vans andinstallation of Gudda Guddi boards to map the sex ratio of the area. Also,during COVID-19, masks as well as sanitary napkins have been widely distributedin districts.
The mascot of the Department, "Sukhi Bhainji, thehelpful Anganwadi worker", regularly carries online messages of goodnutrition, well-being, disease prevention and child safety, to allstakeholders.