By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : Concerned over the declining sex ratio, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today pitched for strict enforcement of laws banning sex determination tests, saying bias against girls and women is a “shame”.
No nation, society or community can hold its head high and claim to be part of the civilized world if it condones the practice of discrimination against one half of humanity, he said.
“We are an ancient civilization and we call ourselves a modern nation. And yet, we live with the ignominy of an adverse gender balance due to social discrimination against women,” he said inaugurating the National Meeting on “Save The Girl Child”.
The Prime Minister noted that the last census showed a declining sex ratio. “Multiple deprivations all with roots in the oppressive structure of patriarchy has resulted in a bias against girls and women. This is a shame and we must face the challenge squarely,” he stressed.
“The census figures illustrate that it is some of the richer states of the country where the problem is most acute such as Punjab, which has only 798 girls, Haryana 819, Delhi 868 and Gujarat 883 girls per 1,000 boys,” he said.