The latest sex ratio figures from Punjab’s civil registration system have highlighted a concerning trend in the border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur.
In Pathankot, the sex ratio dropped sharply from 902 in 2023 to 864 in 2024, meaning only 864 girls were born for every 1,000 boys last year. Gurdaspur fared slightly better, recording a ratio of 888, a minor improvement of three points from 2023.
Punjab’s overall sex ratio for 2024 stood at 918, showing a marginal improvement of just two points compared to the previous year. Kapurthala retained its top spot with a sex ratio of 987, although it experienced a slight decline from 992 in 2023. Malerkotla, a Muslim-dominated district, maintained its position as the second-best in the state, showing a significant improvement of 39 points, reaching 961 in 2024.
Navneet Bal, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kapurthala, expressed pride in the district’s continued strong performance. “It is overwhelming to know that we topped the state in terms of gender ratio for the second time in a row. Every small activity we engage in helps create awareness,” she said. To further promote gender equality, the district administration plans to release a documentary on the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign on January 24, National Girl Child Day.
Hoshiarpur also showed encouraging signs, with a sex ratio of 923 for 2024. Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal noted that in December 2023, the district recorded a remarkable ratio of 1,001. “In fact, five of the 13 blocks in the district had a ratio exceeding 1,000 last month, which is very encouraging,” she added.
While some districts have made progress, the overall figures highlight the ongoing challenges in addressing gender imbalance in Punjab. Efforts to create awareness and implement targeted initiatives remain critical to ensuring continued improvement in the state’s sex ratio.
The latest sex ratio figures from Punjab’s civil registration system have highlighted a concerning trend in the border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur.
In Pathankot, the sex ratio dropped sharply from 902 in 2023 to 864 in 2024, meaning only 864 girls were born for every 1,000 boys last year. Gurdaspur fared slightly better, recording a ratio of 888, a minor improvement of three points from 2023.
Punjab’s overall sex ratio for 2024 stood at 918, showing a marginal improvement of just two points compared to the previous year. Kapurthala retained its top spot with a sex ratio of 987, although it experienced a slight decline from 992 in 2023. Malerkotla, a Muslim-dominated district, maintained its position as the second-best in the state, showing a significant improvement of 39 points, reaching 961 in 2024.
Navneet Bal, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kapurthala, expressed pride in the district’s continued strong performance. “It is overwhelming to know that we topped the state in terms of gender ratio for the second time in a row. Every small activity we engage in helps create awareness,” she said. To further promote gender equality, the district administration plans to release a documentary on the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign on January 24, National Girl Child Day.
Hoshiarpur also showed encouraging signs, with a sex ratio of 923 for 2024. Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal noted that in December 2023, the district recorded a remarkable ratio of 1,001. “In fact, five of the 13 blocks in the district had a ratio exceeding 1,000 last month, which is very encouraging,” she added.
While some districts have made progress, the overall figures highlight the ongoing challenges in addressing gender imbalance in Punjab. Efforts to create awareness and implement targeted initiatives remain critical to ensuring continued improvement in the state’s sex ratio.
