2.55 crore girl children lost to infanticide in India

An NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) is focused on promoting and protecting human rights in Asia.

It holds its headquarters in New Delhi, India.

The ACHR undertakes research and investigations, provides information about the same and carries out campaigns about both country and individual-related cases.

India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan are some of ACHR's concentrated areas of functioning.

Abortion of a female foetus for cultural reasons dated back to centuries earlier is known as female foeticide.

Sex-ratio of 103 to 107 males per 100 females is considered to be the norm; anything above it suggests female foeticide.

Child sex ratio is significantly higher in Western and North-western states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir.

A study titled 'The State of the PC&PNDT Act: India's losing battle against female foeticide' by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) found statistics with regards to India's Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.

The findings of this report revealed that in the last 2 decades, India lost 2.55 crore girls to its battle against female foeticide.

The findings of the report revealed that in the 20 years between 1991 and 2001, India lost 13 lakh girls every year on an average due to female foeticide caused by sex-determination.

Despite this figure, the rate of conviction under the PCPNDT Act was 1 out of 1,23,755 cases.

Not a single case was registered in 17 states and 6 Union Territories.

Under-utilized funds, not maintaining details of patients, absence of inspection are some reasons for the inefficiency of the PCPNDT Act.

The report claims that during the years 2010 to 2014, utilization of funds inadequately resulted in allocation of a mere Rs.7.09 crore against the predicted requirement of Rs.20.26 crore.

Lack of registered medical practitioners and absence of procedural details were also cited as reasons.