In New Delhi, the sex ratio further slipped from 898 in 2001 to an abysmal 883 in 2011. Hence, the goal of the project is to generate understanding and awareness regarding the implementation and impact of the Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994 and prepare local stakeholders and community members for deeper engagement in efforts to end pre-natal sex selection.

Since the issue needs to be addressed through a multi-pronged approach, the sensitisation of community members and general public will be done through various “walks against female foeticide”, silent demonstrations, signature campaigns, and media workshops. The district administration and the PC/PNDT officials have also been contacted through the networking effort. A medical and social audit will also be conducted and its findings will be submitted to the bodies of the Government of India dealing with the issue of decreasing sex ratio.

Community Watch Groups (CWG) have been formed to create a body at the local community level to keep a vigil over their immediate society to curb declining sex ratio; generate citizen participation in proper project implementation, generate awareness at the grassroots level about the negative consequences of female foeticide; and to increase awareness about the PCPNDT Act.

The aim is to ensure long term sustainability of the project, even after its completion. CWGs have also been formed in the Dabri project area, among the residents of Vasant Gaon, and in a community living in Mahipalpur. All the CWGs have been formed with a vision that a local body constituting of the community members can act as a monitoring body and can keep a check on the incidences of female foeticide in their community.

Speaking about the MSMB-II project, Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Research, said: “We are very hopeful and confident that the Meri Shakti Meri Beti project and the newly formed CWGs will keep a constant vigil over the immediate community and check further incidences of female foeticide.”

The following table is a compilation of Census data, and provides a snapshot of the sex ratio figures from 1991 to 2011. In addition to the overall sex ratio, the following table also provides figures for the 0-6 age bracket, which will enable further understanding of the present situation.

The MSMB project is also witnessing the formation of Committees Against Female Foeticide (CAFFs) in the elite pockets of Delhi- Vasant Kunj, Dwarka, and Vasant Vihar to fight the sex-selective activities taking place among the rich.