A movement losing momentum and daughters as Haryana’s sex ratio declines

Launched by PM Modi in Panipat in 2015, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign initially delivered strong results. Haryana’s Sex Ratio at Birth rose from 838 in 2010 to 923 by 2019, driven by strict raids on pre-natal testing centres, inter-State crackdowns, monthly video conference reviews, and fixed accountability. However, data for the first four months of 2026 show that the number of girl babies born has dipped below 900, sparking fears that the programme is losing focus and momentum, reports Ashok Kumar