A declining sex ratio or the number of females per 1,000 males dipping to 900 in Hazaribagh has set alarm bells ringing.

The central ministry of women and child development recently sent a letter to Hazaribagh district, asking them to look into the matter and take remedial steps.

Acting on it, deputy development commissioner Vijaya Jadhav on Saturday instructed child development projects officers to send anganvadi sevikas to identify pregnant women and follow up on their delivery. In case a woman terminated her pregnancy midway, she needed to be contacted personally for the reason.

If found that the woman ended her pregnancy intentionally (terminating her female foetus) legal action should be initiated against the woman and her family, the DDC added.

Jadhav said that in last five years sex ratio was declining in the district, “which is not right in a civilised society”.

She said that to counter this, serious efforts were needed from all sections of society, including families, doctors and health workers, but most of all the pregnant woman. “The woman should have the courage to say no to female foeticide.”