Panaji: The directorate of planning, statistics and evaluation (DPSE), and the Office of the Chief Registrar of Births and Deaths have stated that the recent survey report of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (NFHS-5) 2019-20 as regards Goa is based on the survey of only 1,856 households in the state, and does not depict the true picture of Goa, which has more than five lakh households.

This report had stated that “Goa has the lowest sex ratio under 7 years of age in India.”

“The households were interviewed during the conduct of NFHS-5 survey by IIPS, Mumbai, which had been designated as a nodal agency by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,” the DPSE informed, adding that, it is pertinent to note that Goa is one amongst a very few states in India, which has 100% births and deaths registration.

“Therefore, it is essential to bring to the notice that Goa has recorded a sex ratio at birth of 949 females per 1,000 males based upon the actual data and records of birth registered in Goa and the sex ratio of total population of Goa is 985 females per 1,000 males,” stated Vijay Saxena, the chief registrar of births and deaths. “It is my considered opinion that the sample of 1,856 households may not be a true representation of Goa’s more than five lakh households,” he mentioned, adding that, the sex ratio at birth of 949 females per 1,000 males in Goa is in fact all time high since the year 2007.