Sex Ratio Slips Again: Haryana Reviews Anti-Foeticide Measures

Haryana's sex ratio at birth (SRB) has seen a concerning decline in the first four months of 2026, falling to 895 from 925 recorded during the same period in 2025. This dip, despite previous efforts to curb suspected gender selection and foeticide, has triggered another review by the state government.

Several districts, including Charkhi Dadri with the lowest SRB of 769, Ambala, Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, and Jind, registered significant decreases. Charkhi Dadri's ratio dropped from 853 in early 2025 to 769 this year. Even urbanized Gurgaon posted a weak SRB of 863, though it improved slightly from the previous year.

In response to the falling numbers, Additional Chief Secretary Sumita Misra has directed officials to intensify sting operations and dismantle interstate networks involved in illegal sex determination and female foeticide. Measures include faster reverse tracking of abortion cases and inspections of medical stores selling MTP kits.

Authorities have increased crackdowns, sealing 44 chemist shops and seizing over 6,000 MTP kits across Haryana this year. Since 2014, over 1,300 FIRs have been registered under PCPNDT and MTP Acts, with more than 400 interstate raids conducted.

Misra emphasized strengthening monitoring through health workers and proposed village-level awareness campaigns involving religious leaders. Haryana, which had the worst sex ratio at birth in 2011, had improved significantly but has seen a renewed decline, falling to 910 in 2024.