CHANDIGARH: The nongovernment organizations (NGOs) here at ‘the concluding day of the two-day ‘meet, expressed concern over the dwindling female sex ratio in the ‘country, “Out of 10 districts which “were worst affected, with less than “BOO females Her 1000 mules “at least Seven to eight of these districts are in the states of Punjab and Haryana,” said, Man Mohan Sharma, executive earth secretary of the Voluntary Wealth Association of Punjab.

About SO NGOs from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh have participated in the meet. Among the other issues discussed was the havoc which was being played by the tourism industry with the state of Himachal Pradesh. Not only the ecology but the lives of the people were also being affected, the participants added. About Punjab, the participants said that two decades of militancy and the revolution had brought about changes in take life of people consumption of alcohol was on the rise in the state.

Issues relating to the economic changes with the migratory labor in Punjab were also discussed. The NGOs felt that there was need to take steps for the welfare of the migratory labor, at present, the stale government has no policy or plan for the welfare of the migratory labor, they pointed out.

Problems of the NGOs, concerning funds and growth of fake voluntary organization, were also discussed.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 13, 1996