Goa’s gender ratio goes off balance - Herald

Goa’s gender ratio goes off balance January 18, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: Goa’s sex ratio of 968 women to 1000 men is the same as neighboring Karnataka - a large and relatively less affluent state compared to which Goa represents a mini Dubai as far as employment avenues are concerned - while highly populous states such as Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Naidu have better sex ratios with 978, 992 and 995 women per 1000 men respectively, 2011 census figures show. As of 2011, the state had a population of 14,57, 723. In 1960, Goa had a commendable sex ratio 1,066 women per 1,000 men, but since then the ratio has had a free fall to 961 women per 1,000 men in 2001. This drop is in line with the worrying all-India trends as nationwide average ratio of women to men is 940 to 1000, and this has come into sharp focus after the heinous rape and murder of the 23-year-old in Delhi and the depraved assault on a seven –year- old in the port town of Vasco gave indication of a ticking time bomb due to the skewed sex ratio. Kerala has the best sex ratio and tops the list (1084 women to 1000 men) followed by Pudicherry (1031 to 1000), and Chattisgarh, which is way above Goa with 991 women to 1000 men. Despite perceived high social indicators, this highly educated state (literacy rate of 87.4 per cent) ranks 12th on an all India survey. But the male to female sex ratio in the 0-6 years range is a low 920 to 1000, according to the 2011 census information and even Bihar has a higher sex ratio of 933 to a 1000 while in neighbouring Karnataka, the ratio is 943 girls. The average all-India sex ratio between 0-6 yrs is 914 females per 1000 males. Compared to the below 0-6 year category, Goa does little better in the adult female with– 968 females to every 1000 males ratio. However, it is the low below-six-year ratio that is extremely disturbing. The causes for this alarming trend remain largely unanswered and unaddressed even as it may have serious implications for the warped sex ratio of the next generation in this liberal, cosmopolitan state. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Goa-rsquo-s-gender-ratio-goes-off-balance/69556.html