Abstract |
If health is defined ‘as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’, it follows that existence is a necessary condition for aspiring for health. The girl child in India is increasingly under threat. In recent decades, there has been an alarming decrease in the child sex ratio (0-4 years) in the country. Access to technological advances of ultra sonography and India’s relatively liberal laws on abortion have been misused to eliminate female foetuses. From 958 girls to every 1000 boys in 1991, the ratio has declined to 934 girls to 1000 boys in 2001. In some states in western and north western India, there are less than 900 girls to 1000 boys. The sex ratio is at its worst in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, where severe practices of seclusion and deprivation prevail. Often in contiguous areas in these states, the ratio dips distressingly below 800 girls to every 1000 boys (RGI, MOHFW, UNFPA, 2003). Annexure I gives the child sex ratio in different states and union territories of India as per the 2001 census. The Present paper analysis the Nutrition and women health in India. |