Finance Commission Expresses Concern over Child Sex Ratio in Haryana

Chandigarh, May 4 (PTI) The 15th Finance Commission today expressed concern over the "skewed" child sex ratio in Haryana, saying it "continues to be a problem" and pitched for complete halt in prenatal sex determination tests.

The commission also noted the "deterioration" in fiscal situation of power utility Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN).

A delegation of the 15th Finance Commission led by its member and noted economist Ashok Lahiri today held a discussion with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Finance Minister Abhimanyu and representatives of different political parties.

The commission was on a visit to Haryana to assess financial needs of the state.

"Sex ratio continues to be a problem. We still have far too few women. Even the child sex ratio, though it has improved, but still it is much lower than the national average," said Lahiri.

"If we do not stop prenatal sex determination tests then there will be problem....it is shameful that we are killing our so many daughters. Prenatal sex determination test have to be stopped," Lahiri asserted.

However, another commission member Ramesh Chand lauded the state government for bringing a "marked" improvement in the child sex ratio. He said that state government achieved "major success" in the last three years in this area.

He pointed out that imbalance in sex ratio did not happen in the last 10 or 20 years, saying there is a historical background to it. "It is not easy to change historical background," said Chand.

Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanyu said, "Everybody knows about Beti Bachao programme (that) was launched from Haryana and maximum improvement in the ratio took place in Haryana. Sex ratio reached 914 per 1000 males and Haryana CM was committed to take it to 950."

Talking about the power sector in Haryana, Lahiri said the commission noted that UHBVN had some "problems" in terms of losses.

"The fiscal situation (of it) has deteriorated quite a bit after Uday bonds," he added.

On this, Abhimanyu said the government was in the process of drafting a proposal for turning all electric tubewell pumps to solar pumps which will bring down the financial burden on the state exchequer.

"There are six lakh tubewell connections for irrigation in the state and the power subsidy burden is pegged at Rs 7,000 crore. We have plans to convert all these tubewell connections into solar pumps in phased manner. Not only it will allow farmer to run pumps, but will also allow him to make money out of selling extra power," he said.

He said the final proposal of this ambitious scheme will be put up before the chief minister soon.

Lahiri said there was improved fiscal management in terms of integrated fiscal management system and public finance management system in Haryana. The state had framed Vision 2030 which was connected with sustainable development goals.

"But the problem persists, for example the CM and FM pointed out that though Haryana's per capita income is much higher than the county, still there exist districts which are very poor particularly Nuh and Mewat," Lahiri said while talking to reporters here.

He also stressed upon improvement in the state transport sector.

Lahiri said the state debt to GSDP ratio of Haryana has increased in the last two years."There is a need for improving quality of public expenditure particularly capital expenditure which is as proportion to GDP not doing very well," he said.

He also talked about water management system and pointed out dark zones in the state.

"There is a need to introduce micro irrigation. One of the suggestions came that we need to move from crop agriculture that is paddy and wheat to Peri-urban agriculture as farmers are ready to supply vegetables, fruits, milk, poultry, fish to Delhi," he said.

The crop residue burning issue also figured in the discussions.

"Machines are required for managing crop stubble but it involves capital expenditure but that capital will be payed back in few years. What is to be done? It is a matter of investment," he said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)