Mumbai, Aug 17 (IANS) Alarmed by the sharp decline in the child sex-ratio in Maharashtra, the state government has decided to train students to “keep an eye” on suspected sex determination centres, an official said here Wednesday.


The scheme will be announced by Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare Varsha Gaekwad at a function in University of Mumbai, said Ganesh Chandanshive, head of the varsity’s Performing Folk Art Academy.

“To begin with, we will rope in National Social Service (NSS) volunteers from all the colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai,” Chandanshive told IANS.

Subsequently, the state government hopes to make it a state-wide mission involving all universities and colleges, a government official said.

As per Census-2011, Maharashtra recorded a male-female ratio of 1000:883 as against the national average of 1000:914.

The student community has already been sensitised about the issue of declining child sex-ratio through awareness programmes, workshops, skits and lectures in the past few weeks, he added.

The NSS volunteers are also being trained on how to keep a watch on suspect sonography centres conducting child determination tests and bring it to the notice of the concerned agencies.

They will also discreetly monitor neighbourhoods where pregnant women are present and attempt to catch hints of possible child determination tests that they may be considering.

“However, since students cannot legally enter such sonography centres, they will be accompanied by NGOs, lawyers and social activists who will take the matter to its logical end,” added the official, requesting anonymity.

Couple planning to go for sex determination will be counselled against the tests.