Mandya district records lowest birth sex ratio in Karnataka, study shows
Mandya: Despite awareness campaigns and programmes by both the central and state governments to protect the girl child, Mandya district continues to report the lowest child sex ratio (0–6 years) in Karnataka, according to a recent Child Rights Index report released by the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR).
The study, cited by The New Indian Express on Sunday, identifies several districts in the state with low sex ratios at birth, including Mandya, Bagalkot, Bidar, Chikkaballapur, and Kalaburagi, with ratios below 900 in certain years. India’s SDG Index, in comparison, targets a sex ratio at birth of 950 females per 1,000 males.
Mandya has consistently witnessed a low sex ratio over the past four years: 884 in 2020, 873 in 2021, 877 in 2022, and 887 in 2023. Other districts fared slightly better in 2023, with Bagalkot at 919, Bidar 920, Kalaburagi 910, and Chikkaballapur 937, although most of these districts had ratios below 900 in 2022.
The study, conducted by S. Madheswaran and B.P. Vani of the Institute for Social and Economic Change, notes that the child sex ratio in Karnataka was relatively stable until 2011 but has declined to 916 during 2018–20. Historically, the ratio dropped from 975 in 1981 to 946 in 2001, inched up to 948 in 2011, and fell again in recent years.
The study cites sex-selective abortions, imbalance at birth, and excess female infant mortality as key contributors. “There are various factors responsible for low female ratio, including gender-based differences in feeding practices, healthcare-seeking behaviour, and differences in immunisation rates between boys and girls,” states the report. Additionally, declining fertility rates and reduced family sizes influence overall sex ratios.
Venkatesh, a KSCPCR member in Mandya, highlighted the difficulty in tracking illegal abortion centres. In one instance, an ultrasound facility operating inside a jaggery factory reportedly referred patients to abortion centres.
“After doing an ultrasound, they referred these patients to various abortion centres. When we come across issues like female infanticide, we inspect the place and, on finding evidence, we report to the police. However, the issue is still a matter of concern,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Venkatesh added that authorities do not want Mandya to be known as a centre for female infanticide and noted that the practice continues, particularly when parents want their first child to be a son or do not want a second girl child.
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SWR announces special trains for passengers stranded by large-scale IndiGo cancellations
Bengaluru (PTI): The South Western Railway on Saturday announced a series of special trains, in coordination with Central, South Eastern and Southern Railways, to clear stranded passengers following large-scale IndiGo flight cancellations across the country.
The special services will operate between December 6 and 10 on high-demand routes, including Bengaluru–Chennai, Bengaluru–Pune, Yesvantpur–Hazrat Nizamuddin, Shalimar–Yelahanka and Ernakulam–Yelahanka, officials said.
According to an official statement, SWR will run Train No. 06255/06256 between Chennai Egmore and KSR Bengaluru, 06257/06258 between Bengaluru and MGR Chennai Central, 06259/06260 between Yesvantpur and Hazrat Nizamuddin, and 06263/06264 between Bengaluru and Pune.
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Central Railway will operate Train No. 01413/01414 between Pune and Bengaluru, while South Eastern Railway will run Train No. 08073/08074 between Shalimar and Yelahanka. Southern Railway will operate Train No. 06147/06148 between Ernakulam and Yelahanka, the statement said.
Railways has advised passengers to check updated timings on its official channels and arrive early at stations.
For at least five days in a row, IndiGo flight operations have been significantly disrupted, with a large number of cancellations and delays causing hardships to thousands of passengers. In many cases, baggage has been misplaced.
