"International Journal of Geography, Geology and Environment"

The present study is an attempt to examine the decadal changes in child sex ratio of every group of population of Punjab i.e., total, rural and urban. To analyse the temporal changes in child sex ratio of Punjab the Census data of 1991, 2001 and 2011 has been used. In present study, the changes in child sex ratio of Punjab over the decades have been analysed at the tehsil-level. Further, the study identifies the factors responsible for such decadal variations found in this context. It has been observed that the child sex ratio of the state has sharply declined during 1991-2001. This decade witnessed rapid spread of sex-determination techniques in the entire country especially in the north-western states. Among these states, Punjab was forerunner to adopt these techniques leading to female foeticide. The study found that relatively high practice of sex-selective abortion due to mushrooming of private ultrasound and abortion clinics in the state were mostly responsible for decline of child sex ratio during 1991-2001. In addition to it, the late implementation of the PNDT Act in the study area led to a notable decline in child sex ratio during this decade. During the next decade (2001-2011), an improvement has been observed in this regard. The urban areas of the state experienced relatively high improvement in child sex ratio as compared to their rural counterparts during this period. It has been observed that the highest rise in child sex ratio during this decade was reported in Doaba as compared to Majha and Malwa.