An Analysis of Various Socio Economic Factors of Declining Sex Ratio in India

The disliking for female child is not a new phenomenon in India. This is the reason that sex ratio has mostly remained against female child. This paper attempts to examine some of the socio-economic factors of declining sex ratio in different states in India. Three important factors that are examined in this paper are per capita income, literacy rate and incidence of crime against women. The southern states of Kerala and Tamilnadu have high per capita income and high sex ratios, whereas, the economically affluent northern states of Haryana, Punjab and Gujrat have much lower sex ratios. Overall there has been no correlation between per capita income and sex ratio in India. State wise comparison of sex ratio and literacy rate brings out that southern states of Kerala and Tamilnadu have high literacy rate and a favorable sex ratio. Punjab and Haryana have comparatively lower literacy rate and lower sex ratios. The other states with low literacy as well as low sex ratio are the states of Madhya Pradesh, UP, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Bihar. There has been a positive correlation between sex ratio and literacy rate. State wise comparison of sex ratio and crime against women in India was also made. There is found no clear cut association between incidence of crime against women and sex ratio. This might be due to non-reporting of crime or due to other socio cultural variations among different states. Hence education is the key to change of attitude and outlook towards women. If we want a better society providing equal rights to women, we must educate our youths to bring them out of orthodox outlook towards women.