VIRUDHUNAGAR
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed concern over falling sex ratio in Virudhunagar district during a review meeting on implementation of New India Mission 2022 here on Tuesday.
During a power point presentation, it was revealed that though the number of women in Virudhunagar was higher than that of men at present, the sex ratio at birth in the district for 2017 had drastically dropped to 937 females for 1,000 males.
“Why is the number, which was higher all these years, drastically falling down?,” she asked the officials.
Joint Director (Health Services) R. Manoharan revealed that sex selection abortion was the main reason for this. He said it was higher in the backward blocks like Tiruchuli and Narikudi, where the sex ratio at birth was 850.
Ms. Sitharaman wanted the district administration to educate people on the perils of sex selection abortion. Another officer said private hospitals were indulging in medical termination of pregnancy.
Later addressing press persons, Ms. Sitharaman said Virudhunagar district, despite being globally known for the trade and industrial nuances among its people, was listed among the 115 backward districts of the country due to higher poverty.
“A total of 3.14 lakh people – 15% of the district’s population – have been enrolled under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. We discussed the need for skill development being imparted to the people to enable them to get remunerative jobs,” she said.
A dashboard on the daily activities on New India Mission on various indicators to make them public would be launched in April.
Ms. Sitharaman also said she would take up with the Centre the issue of insurance companies not paying compensation for crop loss under Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme.
Efforts would be taken to include Virudhunagar district under National Horticulture Mission for increased funds to promote horticulture activities in the district, she said.
Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan, State Minister for Dairy Development K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, nodal officers for New India Mission Praveen Kumar and Santhosh Babu Virudhunagar Collector A. Sivagnanam were also present.
