Though there have been signs of some improvement in the female sex ratio in Himachal Pradesh, state’s health is exploring possibilities of introducing an innovative scheme called ‘mother tracking’. Gujarat has successfully adopted this model for women and child health care. The scheme, which is expected to be functional next month may first be taken up on a pilot basis and then replicated in the state. All pregnant mothers will be registered up to the block level and the entire data will be uploaded using a software already made available to the state by the Gujarat government. Health Minister Rajeev Bindal and team of senior health officials had visited Gujarat and studied the scheme a few months ago. “The facility could be made functional on the mobile phones of female health workers working in the blocks and having wide reach to rural women. It will cut down paperwork and make data by the Block Medical officers easier to upload,” said Secretary Health Ali Raza Rizvi. The biggest benefit of the scheme will be strengthening of surveillance on women and child health and also keeping record about the line of treatments/regular health care being followed by the expectant mother during the advancement of her pregnancy. The women could also be sent SMS alerts periodically to inform them about check-ups and any changes seen during the period so that she remains physically and mentally fit. This will also ensure institutional deliveries. Some districts like Hamirpur top the list with 90 per cent institutional deliveries. Rizvi, who recently returned after central deputation, said, “The focus of the central government, under a scheme recently launched from Haryana, Rashtriya Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, is to ensure better health care for women and infants in rural areas. The state government also has a similar scheme. Now, the mother tracking scheme will provide attention to women in need of healthcare during the pregnancy period.” The state’s Mission Director National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Rakesh Kanwar said, “An immediate benefit of the mother tracking scheme will be keeping a close eye on cases of female foeticide as entire data about the pregnancy women and new born baby will be available on the computers. It will be easy for the health authorities, sitting in Shimla, to pin point each case.” Some of the border districts in Himachal Pradesh like Una, Kangra, Solan and Hamirpur have higher incidence of sex determination tests and substantial decline in the female sex ratio. After having taken a series of steps, the 2011 census figures show marginal improvements in the sex ratio.