Dwindling numbers: Young girls in Srinagar

Srinagar, May 17: Valley separatists have thrown their weight behind the fight against the alarming decrease in the number of girl children in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Valley witnessed the sharpest decline in child sex ratio (0-6 years) in the whole country from 941 for every 1,000 males in 2001 to 859 in the 2011 census.

India’s current sex ratio in this group stands at 914 girls for 1,000 boys.

Leh is the worst-affected district in the state with a ratio of 583 girls for 1,000 boys in the 0-6 age group. A decade back, the figure was 823 girls for 1,000 boys.

The Valley’s overall sex ratio has fallen to 883 from 901 a decade back, against the national average of 940.

The figures have come as a huge embarrassment for the state government, which joined hands with several NGOs to improve the numbers.

“The data has shaken the sane elements, giving rise (to an) urgency to properly deal with this most damaging phenomenon gripping the society in its clutches,” chief minister Omar Abdullah told a meeting called yesterday to discuss the issue and devise a strategy.

The separatists have decided to launch their own campaign against female foeticide.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairperson Yasin Malik said he is writing to all religious heads and associations to join the campaign.

“We’ll have to rise against this crime or else be ready not to be counted among the civilised nations,” Malik said.

“I will write to all Mirwaizs (head preachers), religious associations, intellectuals, doctors, universities and colleges to join the cause.”

The JKLF leader said the sharp decline in numbers has exposed “the hollowness” of our society.

Moderate Hurriyat chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq too voiced his concern.

“Our religion has given respect to the girl child and our ulemas and religious heads must start a campaign for mass awareness against this evil (female foeticide),” Mirwaiz told a gathering in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.