Panchkula, Apr 7 (UNI) The sex ratio has considerably improved in Haryana from 819 to 860 females per thousand males, Health Minister Kartar Devi said today.

In Hisar district alone, the ratio had touched the figure of 900 females per thousand males, she said while addressing a state level function organized to mark the World Health Day at Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium here.

Stressing the need to prevent the heinous practice of female foeticide, she said the village which would show remarkable work in this direction would be given a cash prize of Rs one lakh and honoured at state level with a cash award of Rs five lakh.

Ms Kartar Devi said the Centre had given special thrust to education and health and increased the budget of both these areas substantially. The state budget in these fields had also been enhanced.

She said the State Government had launched schemes such as Ladli and Indira Shagun Yojna to remove the imbalance in the sex ratio and for the empowerment of women.

Parliamentary Secretary (Health) Ms Krishna Pandit also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the Health Minister honoured health workers for their outstanding work and formally announced the Athlete Meet of Health Department.

UNI VKJ AKJ HT1817