Gender ratio in Konkan districts highest

Mumbai: The Konkan district of Ratnagiri has the widest gender ratio in Maharashtra at 1,123 females per 1,000 males followed by Sindhudurg at 1,037.

It is certainly heartening to see the higher ratio, but an expert says the figures may belie the real picture in a state and nation with skewed gender ratios where the preference for sons cuts across all communities.

"Both these districts are in a region that is best described as money-order economies since a large number of men are employed in Mumbai's government offices and private companies while their womenfolk manage home and family," says Rahi Bhide, a Marathi columnist and expert. This could probably have led to a higher number of women being counted in these districts, she says.

Apart from this factor, the Konkan belt may not be economically developed like western Maharashtra but "people in general are progressive-minded and do not discriminate against girls," she says.

The Maharashtra census 2011 details released yesterday show Mumbai, with the highest literacy rate and economic development fares the worst in gender ratio at 838, followed by 857 in Mumbai Suburban and 880 in the neighbouring Thane township. However, the ratio increased slightly in all these districts during 2001-2011.