(Sept.01,2010) Meanwhile, in India’s northern Punjab State, which was known to have
the lowest sex ratio in the entire country for decades, now claims a dramatic increase
in the number of girl children. Compared to 798 girls per 1000 boys reported in the
2001 Census, State health and family welfare minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, quoted
new, pre-census statistics which show, that the state-wide Child Sex Ratio, zero to
six years, has risen by 98 to 896 girls per 100 boys, since she took office in 2007.
Chawla claimed the spectacular improvement has been possible through increased community
support, alongside an iron-fisted implementation of the Pre Conception & Pre Natal
Diagnostic Techniques Act. “The law is being strictly enforced to curb the menace
of female foeticide,” the minister said during a meeting in Chandigarh. As part of
the policing strategy introduced by Chawla, some 401 of the 1327 registered ultrasound
centres in the state were booked for illegalities, and another 22 centres were forced
to close down..