The documents provided by the Health department to the Sunday Express under the RTI Act reveal difference of 63 points in the sex ratio at birth and child sex ratio in Muktsar, 49 points in Ferozepur, 26 points in Moga, 46 points in Nawanshahr and 21 points in Tarn Taran.
Either this depicts that the sex ratio improved only in 2008-09 or there has been a significant number of female infanticides in the districts. The report fails to explain the trend.
The officers observed that the total population of the ten districts has been depicted as 1.06 crore and births as 1.35 lakh. By this, the birth rate comes to 12.6 whereas it should be 17.3.
Pointing to another discrepancy, it was stated that the population depicted in the age group of 6-14 years was reported to be over 19 lakh (18 per cent), which is almost the total population in that age group in Punjab.
Besides, the number of children in the age group of 0-6 years has been given as about over 9 lakh (8 per cent), while it should be more than 10 per cent.
Commenting on the report of five districts — Muktsar, Ferozepur, Moga, Nawanshahr and Tarn Taran — they said as per the Census-2001 report, variation in child sex ratio was from 766 to 822, a gap of 56, across the state. But the AMS interim report says it ranges between 751 and 861, a gap of 110.
Besides, the company also failed to submit any report pertaining to infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR).
“Population of 0-2 years has been shown as 4.08 lakh by AMS and if new births in the year are deducted, the number of children in the age group of 1-2 years will come to 2.72 lakh, which is not compatible with the number of children that should have been in this age group,” they said.
Meanwhile, Dr S S Jha, unit head, HR and corporate communications, AMS, said, “All these comments are based on an interim, provisional report submitted by us based on raw data of some districts. Further, we had expected that there would be points of debate which we will clarify at the time of making the presentation and preparing the final report.”
Sources said the company was told to make a presentation of their report on May 1, but it asked for postponement, and has been dilly-dallying.
“Until April 8, we had not received any official letter from DFW to make a presentation. On January 29, the then MD, NRHM, Punjab, had informed in a personal meeting that the DFW had sought clarifications on our interim report and needed explanations. Thereafter, between January 31 and March 11, we sent five letters to the NRHM MD, requesting him to send us queries. It was only after these reminders and a gap of over two months that finally on April 8, we received a letter from the DFW, asking to make a presentation on April 12. Then again on April 9, we received another letter informing about postponement of the presentation, until the next date. Thereafter, they asked us to make a presentation on May 1. As something urgent had cropped up, AMS sought postponement, and was awaiting next date,” said Jha.
Why AMS Consulting was selected
Many firms responded to the proposal of the Health department, but since the survey of 25 per cent population was to be conducted in Rs 1.07 crore, and the report was to be submitted in four months, many didn’t find it feasible. Sources said it was only AMS which found the proposal possible and agreed to the terms and conditions. It was only when the row with the company erupted, the officials in the department started wondering over the consent of AMS to their “somewhat impractical terms”.
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