In many states of India, there are several evidences that indicate a widespread practice of using female birth intervention. As a result, an alarmingly lowest ever sex ratio in the age group 0-6 has been reported by the 2001 census. The most affected are the northwestern states; therefore, these states form the focus area of this study. Although, reasons for decline in the child sex ratio are many, but the most important is the presence of a strong son preference. There are, age old as well as modern factors for this preference. This study has given some suggestions for the improvement of the socio-economic and cultural fundamentals, which has always been detrimental to the interest of our female population. From the policy point of view the state along with the community needs to facilitate any change visualized in these fundamentals, by directing programmes in the spirit that the women brings human life up so we all should bring her up. Programmes that aim to reduce the excessive son preference and increase the value of daughters to their parents must be given priority.