In further evidence that confirms gender discrimination in the country, government data reveals men are hesitant to undergo sterilisation and more women undergo tubectomy than men opting for vasectomy.
This, even when the doctors say that it is easier to sterilise men as compared to women.
Data received from the states/UTs show that out of the total number of vasectomy and tubectomy cases for the year 2011-2012, maximum number of cases have been of female sterilisation.
The numbers of tubectomy are more in all states and UTs.
Gender bias is even seen in big states as well. Madhya Pradesh which has been recording maximum number of sterilisation cases since 2010, reveals that number of tubectomy are much more than vasectomy.
In Madhya Pradesh while 42,818 cases of vasectomy were recorded for 2010-2011, the number of cases of tubectomy were much higher and stood at 6,39,032 for the same period.
Even for the year 2011-2012, the cases of tubectomy in Madhya Pradesh were reported to be 5,50,969 as compared to vasectomy which were only 46,428 for the same period.
Even in Andhra Pradesh, the cases of tubectomy were 13,590 cases for 2011-2012. However, vasectomy cases were also recorded at 13, 590.
The trend is followed in small states and UTs as well. In Chandigarh, the number of cases of vasectomy were just 97 in 2011-2012 as compared to tubectomy which were 1,722.
Even as sterilisation continued to be the mainstay of family planning programmes, male vasectomy has not found many takers. The trend, however is not new as according to the data even in year 2009-2010, 2010-2011, the number of cases of tubectomy were much higher than vasectomy.
In places like Mizoram, Lakshadweep no vasectomy has been done in 2011-2012. Bihar has shown a jump in tubectomy cases from 2,77,123 in 2009-2010 to 490,871 in 2011-2012.