Gender discrimination and sex selective abortion - Odisha

Sex selection is the manifestation of gender discrimination. A strong social mindset for son preference with easy availability of technology for sex determination has resulted into gender biased sex selection. The link between skewed child sex ratio and the growing trend of misuse of increasingly sophisticated diagnostic techniques for pre-conception and pre natal sex selection has been widely documented, researched and evidenced in the past few decades. Even the trend of declining child sex ratio has been spreading to rural and tribal areas in Odisha. As per the provisional data of census 2011 the child sex ratio in Odisha stands at an all time low of 934 girls for 1000 boys. In four districts namely Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Angul and Ganjam the child sex ratio has dipped down alarmingly to less than 900. The CSR has remained below 950 in 19 districts of Odisha. According to the data of National Health Survey 2011, the sex ratio at birth (SRB) of Odisha is 905 and 12 districts have SRB less than 900. The above mentioned data indicate a bleak picture of status of the girl child and women in the State.