Heads of 12 Panchayats, one from each district, were today rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each for having the best female ratio for the year 2005. Chief minister Virbhadra Singh gave away the prizes at the first state level function. The incentive is outside the regular budgetary provisions and is targeted for improving female sex ratio so as to bridge the declining male-female sex ratio in the state.
Speaking at the function, the chief minister said that the declining female sex ratio in the border districts of the state was a matter of grate concern and needed to be given special attention. He said that the districts of Kangra had 837, Una 839, Hamirpur 864 and Bilaspur 884 female children in the 0-6 age against 1,000 male children, which was the lowest in the state. He said that a 6 point decline had been registered in the female sex ratio which was at 970 in 1981 and had to 897 in the 2001 census. He said that the female sex ratio was 793 at the national level and the condition of the state was comparatively better but constant vigil was required to bring it at par with the male.
Chief Minister honoured Ganga Ram, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Methi, Distt. Bilaspur, Sanjeev Kumar, Pradhan Gram Panchayat, Sinhuer, Distt. Chamba, Shri Raghunath, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Kakkar, Distt. Hamirpur, Delhir Singh, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Kudag, distt. Kangra, Baldev Singh Negi, Pradhan Gram Panchayt, Namgia, Distt. Kinnaur, Mrs. Bonsi Devi, Pradhan Gram Panchayat, Deotha, Distt. Kullu, Sh. Amar Singh, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Goharma and Chhering Angial, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Kolang, joint winners of district Lahaul and Spiti, Kehar Singh, Pradhan Gram Panchayat, Mathear, district Mandi, Phul Chand, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Neri, district Shimla, Shri Vinod Tomar, Pradhan ,Gram Panchayt, Bhanat, district Sirmour, Roop Ram, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Hinner, district Solan and Bhagat Ram , Pradhan Gram Panchayat, Badehar, Rajpvtana, district Una.
