Micro study of selected villages of District Jhajjar (Haryana) in respect of Declining Sex Ratio

A low and declining sex ratio has been a matter of great concern for researchers, planners and policy makers, ever since the beginning of census counting in the country. The decline was therefore attributed to the widespread practice of female foeticide. Ours is a patriarchal society marked with strong preference for male child. A strong preference for son is deeply embedded in the socio-economic, cultural and religious life of the Indian people. A female child in the family is demeaned in several ways. This was reflected in the form of sex differentials in mortality in past. Even at present time, despite improvement in the mortality rates, more female children and infants than males continue to die not only in the poorer states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh but also in some of the more advanced states like Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat etc. Interestingly, the north and north-western parts of the country are known for the prevalence of female infanticide. With overall development and advancement in medical technology, female infanticide has given way to female foeticide.