New Delhi: The sex ratio at birth for the country has worsened by 3 points to 906 in 2012-2014 from 909 in 2011-13, shows the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical report 2014. Sex ratio is the number of female live births per 1,000 male live births.

The data shows that the worsening of sex ratio in rural areas is faster than that in the urban areas.

Rapid urbanisation in rural areas is being cited as the main reason for the worsening sex ratio at birth.

In case of rural areas it has worsened to 907 in 2012-14 from 910 in 2011-13. While for urban areas it has reduced to 905 in 2012-14 from 906 in 2011-13.

“The rural sex ratio at birth is catching up faster to the urban sex ratio which is a cause of worry,"said Pronab Sen, former chairman of the National Statistical Commission.

The ideal sex ratio at birth is 960 female live births per 1,000 male live births. A sex ratio of 907—as in the case of rural areas—essentially means that 53 girl children are being aborted. Hence, there will be 53 less females available per 100 male counterparts.

For the period 2012-14, Kerala has reported the highest sex ratio at birth (974), while Haryana, the lowest (866).While for the period 2011-13,Chhatisgarh reported highest sex ratio at birth (970), while Haryana, the lowest (864). An interesting finding from these results is that tribal areas have a good sex ratio at birth as they are not bound by any social stigma.

Also it has been found that the sex ratio among the Muslims is better than the Hindus.

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