Shimla, Feb 15 (PTI) Tribal Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh has the highest sex ratio in the country with 1,017 females for every 1,000 males, Chief Minister P K Dhumal said today. Inaugurating a two-day workshop on 'Rights of Girl Child and Future Impact on Imbalanced Sex Ratio' organised by the HP State Social Welfare Board, Dhumal said his government has made consistent efforts to save the girl child. In the past four years, such schemes have yielded positive results and the sex ratio in the state increased to 974 females against 1,000 males as per the latest Census figures, he said. The chief minister said pre-natal sex determination was a cognisable offence and any person providing information about pre-natal tests and termination of female pregnancy will be rewarded. Dhumal said the state has taken note of the declining female sex ratio in the age group of zero to six years and introduced various schemes to encourage parents for saving the girl child. He said under the 'Beti Hai Anmol' programme, a sum of Rs 5,100 was being deposited at the time of birth of a girl child in poor families, with the amount multiplying substantially by the time she grows up, providing financial aid in meeting her education and marriage expenses. Girls were being given free education up to university level and provided text books and uniforms free of cost, he said. 'Mukhya Mantri Kanyadaan Yojna', 'Matri Seva Yojna', 'Mother Teresa Matri Sambal Yojna', 'Matri Shakti Bima Yojna', 'Matritva Sahyog Yojna', 'Sabala Yojna' were some of the major schemes which had been implemented in the state for women's empowerment. He also said the state has the lowest infant mortality rate in the country.
