DEATH BEFORE BIRTH: A SOCIOLOGICAL

STUDY ON FEMALE FOETICIDE IN INDIA

A Dissertation submitted for the
partial fulfilment of requirement
for the Bachelor of Arts
Sociology(Hons.) 2016

Submitted By: SUCHISMITA DAS

Roll No
Under the guidance of
Mrs Bibhabari Bal
Department of Sociology
B.J.B (Autonomous) College
BHUBANESWAR
 DECLARATION

I, Suchismita Das, a student of Final Year Degree Arts with Honours in

Sociology of B.J.B Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar, do hereby declare that the dissertation on “Death
Before Birth: A sociological study on Female Foeticide in India” is my independent work and has not been
submitted to any other institutes or published at any time before

Suchismita Das

Roll No.:

Department of Sociology

B.J.B Autonomous College,

Bhubaneswar
Mrs Bibhabari Bal

H.O.D of Sociology

B.J.B Autonomous College

Bhubaneswar

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this dissertation entitled “Death Before Birth: A

Sociological Study on Female Foeticide in India” is submitted by Suchismita Das of Final Year
Degree Arts Class, as a project work for part fulfilment of her Bachelor’s Degree in Arts with Honours in
Sociology of B.J.B Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar. This is her original work and the dissertation has
not been submitted to any other to any other institution or published at any time before.

Mrs Bibhabari Bal

Date:
 ACKNOWLEGDEMENT

The dissertation would not have been possible without the help and cooperation
of many individuals.

I Suchismita Das take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those who
helped me in completing my dissertation successfully. I am obliged to Mrs Bibhabari Bal for her guidance
and cooperation. Without her help, I would not have been able to complete the research work.

Many of my classmates helped me in various ways. But my special thanks goes

to Monalisa Mohapatra and Tapaswini Priyadarshini who helped me a lot.

I am thankful to Mr. Sanket Acharya, who gave a physical shape to my

research work
 PREFACE

This study is on female foeticide in India. It has been conducted under the
Department of Sociology of B.J.B Autonomous College in partial fulfilment of requirements for +3 final
Degree examination of Sociology.

This study is to probe into the problem of female foeticide in India, which has
become a serious issue.

The first chapter deals with statement of the problem. The second chapter deals
with the review of the literature. The third chapter deals with the methodology. The fourth and fifth
chapters’ deal with the findings of the study. The sixth chapter deals with suggestions made regarding the
above issue. It also concludes the study.

Though I have gone through some books relevant to the study and have taken
good guidance from Mrs. Bibhabari Bal, any mistakes anywhere may kindly be excused.

Suchismita Das
 CONTENTS

Page No.

Chapter-1

Introduction 8

Chapter-2

Review of Literature 20

Chapter-3

Methodology 24

Chapter -4

Causes and Factors Leading to Female Foeticide 28

Chapter -5

Measures Taken for Prevention of Female Foeticide 46

Chapter -6
 Page No.

Conclusion and Suggestion 54

Annexure 66

Bibliography 69
CHAPTER1
INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION

“From the woman is our birth, in the woman’s womb are we shaped;

To the woman we are engaged, to the woman we are wedded;

The woman is our friend and from the woman is the family;

If one woman dies, we seek another, through the woman are the bonds of the world;

Why call woman evil who gives birth to kings? From the woman comes the woman
without woman there is none;

O Nanak, God alone is the one

who is independent of the woman (because He is unborn)”.

(Var Asa Mohalla 1,2-19, page-473) (Reproduced from Sikhism Philosophy Network)

However, with the changing times and with the advancement of the technology
and human skills it was hoped that the status and position given to women would remain same or
upgraded. But as we go through the era of science we find a lot of evil things happening to women and that
even from an early stage i.e. from the stage of pregnancy itself. Female infanticide, girl foeticide, child
marriage, girl child trafficking and prostitution, sexual harassment at work etc. are some of the burning
examples of cruelty done to women and Indians who take pride in calling their country as mother are more
inclined to kill their daughters even before they are born. The social malaise of killing the girl child is
pretty old in India. Female foeticide in most places has been replaced by female foeticide Earlier it was
more in the form of female infanticide - where girl child was poisoned to death soon after her birth. With
new advances in technology, the problem has surfaced in the form of female foeticide or sex selective
abortion is the elimination of the female foetus in the womb itself. The sex of the foetus is determined by
methods like Amniocentesis, Chorion Villus Biopsy and now by the most popular technique
Ultrasonography. Once the sex of the foetus is determined, if it is a female foetus, it is aborted. Indians
have terminated 10 million girl babies in the last 20 Years. This shocking reality has been uncovered in a
study done by medical journal Lancet, which also reveals that female foeticide is not a phenomenon
restricted to rural India. Secondary data shows that nearly 10 million female foetuses have been aborted in
the country over the past two decades. The United Nations has reported that India’s female ratio between
0-6 years’ age group has fallen to 896 females per 1000 males, the lowest ever in a decade for the world
second most populous nation. Of the 12 million girls born in India, one million do not see their first
birthday. Seven thousand fewer girls are born in India each day than the global average would suggest
avigation. Female foeticide remains the gravest of all issues concerning women “Every night in a hospital, a
girl child is aborted in silence”. Nothing bridges our urban-rural divide better than the preference for sons,
even in this new century Delhi’s sex ratio began showing a sharp decline with the 1991census figure of 827.
The last two years have been the worst yet for the capital, with figures dropping steadily. A healthy ratio,
according to world standards, is considered to be 952 females for every 1000 males. In sharp contrast, of the
6088 births recorded in district hospitals, 3156 were boys and 2932 girls. A young mother had to poison her
baby because it was a girl. It’s high time we end this barbaric practice. Now is the time to energize efforts
to put gender equality at the top of international peace and development agenda. Affluent families in posh
areas of the country’s metropolises are routinely indulging in female foeticide to fulfil their quest for a male
child, according latest government figures. Providing proof that high levels of literacy and per capita
incomes have no bearing on the mind set of people in the posh areas of Delhi and Mumbai, recent
government figures show that in high-income South Delhi the sex-ratio was 762, while in Mumbai’s
Borivali it was 728 and 887 in Goregaon and Andheri West. “It can now be safely accepted that high-income
families with increased access to techniques of sex determination are the ones which are going in for
selective abortions rather than the low-income group areas, “according to a senior health ministry official”.

Women who constitute half a human population have been

discriminated, harassed and exploited irrespective of the country to which they belong, unmindful of the
religion which they profess and oblivious of the timeframe in which they live. Everywhere women are
confronted with many challenges. Female foeticide is perhaps one of the worst forms of violence against
women where a woman is denied her most basic and fundamental right i.e. “the right to life”. The
phenomenon of female foeticide in India is not new, where female embryos or foetuses are selectively
eliminated after pre-natal sex determination, thus eliminating girl child even before they are born. As a
result of selective abortion, between 35 and 40 million girls and women are missing from the Indian
population. In some parts of the country, the sex ratio of girls to boys has dropped to less than 800:1000.
The United Nations has expressed serious concern about the situation. The long standing tradition of son
preference, coupled with medical technology now gives to the status conscious Indian families, the choice
between payment of large dowry for their daughters or elimination of daughters. The traditional method of
getting rid of the unwanted girl child was female infanticide, where the female baby was done away with
after birth in various ways – either by poisoning the baby or letting her choke on husk or simply by
crushing her skull under a charpoy. With the advancement of medical technology sophisticated techniques
can now be used or rather misused, to get rid of her before birth. Through ultrasound scans and
amniocentesis, the sex of the foetus can be determined during the pregnancy of the woman and then the
foetus is aborted if found to be female.

In Indian society, female foeticide has emerged as a burning

social problem during the last few years. The girl child in India is treated right from her birth as an
additional burden an extra mouth to feed, a liability and another man’s property. The birth of a son is
regarded as essential in Hinduism and many prayers and lavish offerings are made in temples in the hope
of having a male child. Modern medical technology is used in the service of this religion driven devaluing of
women and girls. Woman is created par with man in all aspects. “Women have equal rights with men upon
earth; in religion and society they are a very important element. Divine Justice demands that the rights of
both sexes should be equally respected since neither is superior to the other in the eyes of Heaven.” These
authoritative statements from the Bahai’s writing are regarded by Bahai’s as expressions of the Divine
Will. To deprive women arbitrarily of their rights and privileges, or to deprive them to even being born or
killing them in infancy is both immoral and unjust, a violation of God’s law. It has a detrimental effect on
the society and the individuals who are involved in this practice are responsible for such acts.3 But does the
Indian society accept this reality? If so why female foeticide and female infanticide are on the increase? The
sex ratio has altered consistently in favour of boys since the beginning of the 20th century (see Table), and
the effect has been most pronounced in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. It was in these states that
private foetal sex determination clinics were first established and the practice of selective abortion became
popular from the late 1970s. Worryingly, the trend is far stronger in urban rather than rural areas, and
among literate rather than illiterate women.
Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males), India 1901–2001

Year Sex Ratio Sex Ratio in Children (0–6yr)

1901 972 –

1911 964 –

1921 955 –

1931 950 –

1941 945 –

1951 946 –

1961 941 976

1971 930 964

1981 934 962

1991 929 945

2001 933 927

2011 940 896

Source: Registrar General of India

No doubt, if this practice continues it will disturb the social balance and it may lead to serious problems
like increase in sexual offences, sharing of women within and outside wedlock and greater insecurity to
women.

“We have a dream of an India in which every woman can feel safe,
secure and empowered. Where our mothers, sisters and daughters are assured a life of dignity
and personal security. We must end the crime of female foeticide”. Prime Minister, Dr.
Manmohan Singh.

The constitution of India guarantees equality to women. It empowers the states

to adopt measures for affirmative discrimination in favour of women and also impose a fundamental duty
on its citizens to uphold the dignity of women but despite all this, India’s deep rooted “sons only” ethos
continues and girls and women face inequity and inequality everywhere. They are devalued as human
beings from the day they are born. But what is worse is that they are even denied the right to be born, if
their families do not wish them to be born.

Female foeticide and Female Infanticide:

 Female foeticide is aborting the female baby in the mother’s womb. Whereas
female infanticide is killing a baby girl after she is being born. The practice of killing the female child after
her birth has been prevailing in our society for many years. But foeticide is the legacy and contribution of
the progress made by the medical science. Amniocentesis was introduced in 1975 to detect foetal
abnormalities but it soon began to be used for determining the sex of the baby. Ultrasound scanning, being
a non-invasive technique, quickly gained popularity and is now available in some of the most remote rural
areas. Both techniques are now being used for sex determination with the intention of abortion if the foetus
turns out to be female.

With the advent of privatization and commercialization, the use of pre-

natal diagnostic technologies is growing into a thriving business in India. This is primarily for the purpose
of sex determination selective abortion of the female foetus. The misuse of technology simply reinforces the
secondary status given to girl children in such a way that they are culled out even before they are bor.

Compared to infanticide, foeticide is probably a more acceptable means of

disposing off the unwanted girl children. Infanticide can be an overtly barbaric and inhuman practice while
foeticide that is carried out by skilled professionals is a medical practice that uses scientific techniques and
skills and reduces the guilt factor associated with the entire exercise.

Extent of Female foeticide in India

 In India, abortion is legal under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy
Act, 1971 up to 20 weeks. In India, the law permits abortion on the following six grounds: (1) to save the
woman’s life; (2) to preserve physical health; (3) to preserve mental health; (4) in case of rape or incest; (5)
for foetal impairment and (6) for economic or social reasons (United Nations, 2007). Despite having one of
the most liberal abortion laws in the world, women’s group in India are fighting to prevent a liberal law
from being misused for selective gender abortions. Their fear is not without reason. In India, over the last
two decades, an estimated 10 million female foetuses had been aborted (The New York Times, January
2006). It was precisely for this reason that the government enacted the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques
(Regulation and Prevention of Misuse), Act, 1994. Section 5 (2) of the Act, prohibits any person conducting
pre-natal diagnostic procedures from communicating to the pregnant woman or her relative, the sex of the
foetus by means of words, signs or in any other manner. Section 6(b) prohibits the determination of the sex
of the foetus and Section 20(3) which empowers the Appropriate Authority (for e.g. the Chief Medical
Officer) to suspend in public interest the registration of the clinic or laboratory without issuing any show-
cause notice. According to Crime in India Report, 2007 (NCRB, 2008), 96 cases of foeticide were reported in
the country during 2007 as compared to 125 in the previous year indicating a decline of 23.2 per cent. A
disaggregated analysis of foeticide cases indicates that inter-state variations do exist between states (See
Table)
Incidence (I) Percentage Contribution of Foeticide to All India (P) of Crimes

Committed against Children during 2007 (State wise)

Source: Crime in India, 2007; Table 6.2

In 2007, Punjab had reported the highest number of such cases (35) followed by Rajasthan (16). These two
States together had accounted for 53.2% of total such cases reported in the country. It is interesting to note
that in 2000, Punjab did not report any case of foeticide, while Rajasthan reported nine such cases. Indeed,
Punjab and Rajasthan, two most wealthy states in the country top the list of murdering girl foetuses
 CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The present chapter is devoted to make a review of existing research

works done with regard to “female foeticide in India”. The researcher in the present chapter has tried to
collect an array of literature pertaining either directly to topic or are, indirectly related to it.

While making the review the researcher had tried to make a systematic
review of the context in which the studies have been done, the content of the articles or the books and the
conclusion drawn by the author.

Following are some of the reviews regarding the topic

 Sheela Saravanan (2002) in “Female Infanticide in India: A review of literature” has talked about a
study in Tamil Nadu where it was found that people believed that killing a girl child increased the
probability of a male child
 Shankjha (1998) explains that even today, varied forms of violence against women are manifested
directly in foeticide, female child killing, bride- burning, dowry murder, wife battering, abduction, eve
–teasing, verbal abuses or verbal rebukes. Women on many occasions are victimised by all sorts of
discrimination, deprivation and obstruction.
 Syndicated columnist Mona Charen has correctly pointed out that “Abortion on demand has given
birth to boys on demand”.
 Tulsi Patel, a Professor in sociology at the Delhi School of Economics, in her edited work “Sex-
Selective Abortion in India. Gender, Society and New Reproductive Technologies, says that the
increase in the deficit of young girls noticed in the 1981.1991 and 2001 censuses was indicative of a
strong possibility that the traditional methods of neglect of female children were being increasingly
replaced by not allowing female children to be born.
 Mortality rate for girls increase dramatically according to birth order. There are more “missing” girls
among the second and third born, as families pursue their pretence for boys through abortion or
neglect of their sisters”, says ActionAid researcher Jyoti Sapru.
 Srivasava Anupama and Durge PM (2010) in an article “Female Foeticide in India: A social evil” has
talked about how pregnant women are often unaware of how female foeticide affect the sex ratio of
men and women
 Preeti Panwar in her article “Female Foeticide: Death before birth” writes that the struggle for a girl
child starts the day her existence is known in her mother’s womb. There have been numerous
incidents of the foetus being found lying in farms, floating in rivers, wrapped up in jute bags etc…
 Kushwaha Nisha and Sharma Kiran in their article “Factors responsible for Female Foeticide” have
described the grounds for the practise of female foeticide are religious, social, economic, legal and
psychological.
  “Female foeticide is one of India’s most shameful secrets and is supported by nexus of doctors and
affluent people. No one gets convicted, no one is jailed and the efforts to curb it are mostly cosmetic.”
says Dixit in his article “Attitude of women towards female foeticide”. (2014)

REFERENCES

*Sheela Saravanan, “Female infanticide in India: A review of literature”, Social Change March-June
2002 Vol 32 No. 1 & 2
*[Link]
*Mona Charen, “Sex Selected Abortions Hard to defend”, The Oregonian, January 6, 1989, page 35
*[Link]
*Anurpama Srivastava, PM Durge “Female foeticide in India: A social evil”, Journal of Obstetrics &
Gynaecology of India 2010 Dec 60(6) page 503-506
*Preeti Panwar “Female foeticide: Death before birth” Source: [Link]
*Nisha Jitendra Singh Kushwaha, Kiran Arun Sharma “Factors responsible for female foeticide”,
Research Journal of Language, Literature and Humanities Vol 1(7), 1-4, Nov 2014
*Dr. Dhruv Kumar Singh “Attitude of Women towards female foeticide”, International Journal of
creative Research Thoughts Vol 2 Issue 3 March 2014
CHAPTER 3
Methodology
 METHODOLOGY

This chapter deals with the methodology adopted for the research
work. Since any empirical study was not required for the prescribed topic the researcher has approached
the method of content analysis to undertake the study. Accordingly, in the present study the researcher has
tried to proceed in a very systematic direction to land at some insightful and valid conclusions as well as
suggestions. The methodology comprises of steps like fixing the objective, collecting data, analysing data
and present it in a systematic manner so as to fulfil the needs of the research.

WHAT IS CONTENT ANALYSIS

Content analysis is a method of studying communication. It consists

of analysing the contents of documentary materials such as books, magazines, newspapers and he contents
of all other verbal materials which can be either spoken or printed.

As Gardner has pointed out correctly content analysis is

characterized by objectivity, systematic approach, generality and quantifying ideas. The present study
adheres to the above characteristics of content analysis as it tries to analyse “Female Foeticide in India” in
an objective manner systematically and the findings have theoretical relevance.
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

An objective is an integral part of any research project It helps the

researcher prefixing the areas he wants to venture into. It makes the study systematic, economical and less
time consuming in character. Viewed from such a perspective the following objectives are drawn by the
researcher after the topic was finalised and a broad review was made.

 To make a literature study on the concept of female foeticide in India.

 To find out the causes and factors leading to female foeticide.
 To look into the measures taken by the government and other agencies to stop female foeticide.
 To conclude and suggest steps that should be taken to eradicate female foeticide.

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

Secondary Methods

 Books
 Journals
 Periodicals
 Newspapers (Content Analysis)
 Internet Browsing
  Statistical Document

The entire research work started with the collection of secondary

data. As mentioned earlier content analysis is the methodology adopted for the study. Hence, the whole
study has relied heavily on secondary sources for data collection as well as forming the objective. In this
context the books, journals, periodicals, internet browsing were extensively reviewed as the topic was
basically a social problem that is being encountered by society and is getting wide media exposure. Internet
browsing was helpful in getting the updated data about the topic under study. Similarly, newspaper
clippings, journals were reviewed through content analysis method.

DIFFICULTIES FACED IN THE RESEARCH WORK

As the research work is mostly on the basis of content analysis of

various document, no great difficulties were faced by the researcher.
 CHAPTER 4
CAUSES AND FACTORS LEADING TO
FEMALE FOETICIDE
CAUSES AND FACTORS LEADING TO FEMALE FOETICIDE

The present chapter deals with findings of the study as per the
objectives set earlier. Here, the author has tried to summarize and analyse various factors responsible for
female foeticide as well as consequences obtained from different sources.

The Atharva Veda says, “The birth of a daughter granted elsewhere,

here grant a son” This saying in the Holy Scripture sums up the Indian attitude towards female children
who are subjected to multifarious travails inflicted by the society on them. It is the disgrace for the Indian
Society, which considers the birth of a girl child as a bad investment in future. She is considered to be a
consumer rather than a producer and this narrow view point of the Indian Patriarchal Society has led to
horrid practise like female foeticide

There are several interlinked muddles, which are directly or

indirectly coupled through the customary tradition of female foeticide. The grounds described for the
practice of female foeticide in this article are religious, social, economic, legal and psychological. These
accentuating grounds are conditions in which female foeticide is proficiently practiced on a sizeable scale in
numerous portions of India. Development in science and technology cannot be controlled or restricted in
any country. Every country is trying to compete with another in discovering and modifying new
technologies and new modern concepts of living. Easy approach to progressive science and technology has
also been one of the causes of female foeticide. Ultrasound and abortion facilities are voluntarily accessible
in cities, towns and small villages, which makes the practice and exploitation of such techniques
expediently easy and comprehensible. Such technologies if used for the right reason of their invention they
prove to be effective and appropriately serve their purpose. It is important to determine such deep-rooted
grounds, which have braced such practices since many years and still continue to suppress the prestige of
women in Indian Society (Aravamudan, 2007). Such socio-economic religious psychological reasons have
drained the concept of humanity from the Indian soil. A woman’s uniform prestige in the society can only
be accomplished when she’s given an equal right to be born. The intentions for the traditional custom of
female foeticide are somehow parallel amongst numerous nation-states where daughter elimination is
supported. The reasons of female foeticide also indicate the level of hard work and efforts, which needs to
be contributed in order to prevent girls from the brutal practice of female foeticide

Religious Causes

The influence of religion leaves a sturdy impact on innumerable

philosophies and traditional beliefs, which believe that son, is fundamental for religious formalities, which
are executed at different phases of life. When a woman is married she is blessed by “Sau Putra Bhava”,
“Doodho Nahao Pootho Phalo” (Kaur, 2009) etc. Such religious blessings also signify the significance of son
preference in our society. The cremation ceremonial procedure is the most essential in India. It is
considered that cremation through a son guarantees that parents are blessed with direct passage to
heaven. The oldest Vedas and Upanishads have directed that the prominence of such rituals and traditions
can be achieved only if the son of the family performs them. These rituals are considered as a privilege and
therefore this right is bestowed on the son or any male member of the family. Various Goddesses and their
avatars are being worshipped in India, but along with killing a female foetus, devaluing women through
other crimes like rape, adultery etc. is also carried on. Even in Rig Veda Women are respected and
regarded as higher and superior species in the world. Religion and traditions has enormously disturbed the
gender ratio in our motherland. However, no religious scriptures undervalue women, rather in antique
traditional customs they possess extraordinary reverence gifted by God due to which high level of respect is
bestowed on women (Tripathy, 2011). Whereas a daughter is considered to be an auspicious sign of Goddess
Laxmi but at the same time there are many families who kill the female foetus only because they want a
male child to free them from all the sins after their death.

Social Causes

There have been many social causes behind the practice of female
foeticide, as it is believed that daughters do not offer social security to parents. The orthodox Indian Society
considers the birth of daughter a redundant investment that will yield no returns as daughters marry away
and live with their husbands and his family. Dowry ascertains to be an additional disbursement apart from
the expenses in bringing her up, educating her etc. Daughters are also perceived as a disgrace in Indian
society as the parents have to maintain a status in the society. A typical traditional Indian family wishes
that their family name continued which according to them can be done only through a son. Thus daughters
are undesirable, as they do not continue their maiden name after marriage. The practice of infanticide and
foeticide especially prevail in higher caste and among the rich, as they have to sustain their prestige
amongst higher caste. But for the middle class and lower class families, protection of the girl child is the
main concern (Dixit and Sharma, 2012). As crimes against women are increasing in our country there is a
terror in several families regarding the protection and security of their daughters. Therefore, the parents
believe that killing of the daughter before she is born is better so that she does not become the prey to the
countless crimes, which will ultimately destroy her life and result in humiliation for her parents. Poverty
and illiteracy is also measured as a crucial reason for the exercise of female foeticide. A large section of
population is beneath the poverty line therefore a son is preferred in the family, as an economic sustenance.
However, bringing up daughter proves to be pricier for such families. People who inhabit in villages and
distant areas of India continue to believe that devaluing women is the only solution to keep her suppressed.
Due to illiteracy parents impart their future generations the same ideologies, as they are ignorant about
the social change in the education in the status of women in present India. Degrading and disrespecting a
woman has now transformed and taken a new step of killing her before she is born. Female foetuses are
rejected from families for various reasons, but economic reasons are mostly one of the most adopted causes
for such practice. The custom of female foeticide denies every right to a woman to be born, educated and
become economically independent in society at large. Many people prefer son to daughters and also
encourage their son to get educated and opt for higher jobs (Agarwal, 2003). Whereas daughters are denied
basic education, as it is believed that they will be married away and need to run home by becoming a
housewife. Similarly, inheritance also plays an extremely essential role in eliminating the daughter even as
the law guarantees equal share to son and daughter, in many regions of rural India the parent’s fear that if
daughter inherits property the land is automatically lost by the father’s lineage.

Legal Causes

The Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Technique Act, 1994
was passed 18 years ago due to an alarming increase in the brutal killing of female foetuses by latest
means of scientific technologies. According to the 2011 Census the child sex ratio is 914:1000 and therefore
it is evident from these figures that the impact and implementation of the Act is still in doubt as there has
been a continuous fall in the child sex ratio (Chaudhary and Pal, 2007). The Pre Conception and Pre Natal
Diagnostic Technique Act, 1994 has proved to be insufficient and inefficient to curb the brutal custom of
female foeticide. Therefore, the weak implementation of the laws has indirectly proved to be a catalyst for
the increasing ratio of female foeticide as the Indian community is fearless of the rules laid down by the
Act. Had the laws taken stringent action and executed accordingly, countless innocent lives of girls could
have been saved. It is indeed shameful for our country that even after 68 years of independence and the
provision of right to equality mentioned in Article 14 of the Constitution of India, foeticide still triumphs in
our country. The Genocide taking place in India is a consequence of the lack of efforts made by the
Government and Organizations to frame effective laws (Nirbhawane, 1996). This has influenced additional
crimes against women, which has lowered their dignity in India as well as abroad. It is challenging to
detect cases of female foeticide and sex selection as they are performed behind closed doors, which
ultimately leads to less registration of cases in the Courts.

Factors Responsible for Female feticide

The low status of Indian women coupled with the traditional gender
bias has an adverse bearing on the child sex ratio. As a result, her health, nutrition and education have
been neglected. In the Vedic Age: 1500-1000 BC, women in India were worshipped as goddesses. However,
with the passage of time, the Muslim age 1026-1756 AD witnessed a sharp decline in their status and in
the British regime they were looked down upon as 'slaves of slaves'. Female feticide isn't common only
among poor families. Aborting a female foetus is increasingly becoming a lifestyle choice among the rich as
well. The practice of dowry is widely prevalent even in communities and castes in which it had never been
known before. As a result, daughters are considered to be an economic liability. Over the past few decades,
the problem of dowry has acquired alarming proportions giving rise to innumerable socio-economic
problems of far reaching consequences such as bride burning, physical harassment, cruelty and torture
(Harish and Sharma, 2004). In India an average of five women a day are burned in dowry related disputes
and many cases are never reported. In the South Indian communities, they believe that 'Bringing up a girl
is like watering a neighbour’s plant'. The bias against females in India is related to the fact that "Sons are
called upon to provide the income; they are the ones who do most of the work in the fields." In this way sons
are looked to as a type of insurance. Thus, it becomes clearer that the high value given to males decreases
the value given to females. In a patriarchal society, "preservation" of the family name in the forthcoming
generations is the main cause of concern. Also Hinduism allows only a son or male relative to light the
father's pyre. Advances in technologies, especially ultrasonography are now conveniently available at the
"clinic next door", with the woman's family willing to dish out any amount that is demanded of them. The
sex of a foetus can be determined within 13 to 14 weeks of pregnancy by trans- vaginal sonography and by
14 to 16 week through abdominal ultrasound. These methods have rendered sex determination cheap and
easy Pre conception techniques such as the Ericsson method which separates the X and Y- chromosomes
from the sperm and then injects back only the Y chromosome into the womb to ensure a boy, costs Rs15,
000 to 20,000. Yet another technique known as the Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis(PGD)helps to
determine the sex of even an unrecognizable foetus. One or two cells are removed from an 8-10 celled
embryo as early as three days after fertilization and is then re-implanted into the uterus. Its cost-
Rs100,000 per treatment cycle which is out of reach of the common man's pocket. A case study on the
attitudes of Punjabi women towards female feticide has shown that almost three-fourths of Punjabi women
are aware of the technology to determine the sex of the foetus while among those who are aware of sex pre-
selection procedures, 23 percent approved of the practice of aborting unwanted female foetuses 13. The easy
availability of mobile scanning machines means doctors are now doing brisk business in rural areas. It has
been estimated that there are 25,770 officially registered pre-natal units in India". Nobody reports the
unqualified technicians because it is not in their interest to do so. Even the qualified doctors in registered
clinics have ways of violating the law against using ultrasound tests to determine the sex of the foetus. If
the ultrasound test shows a male foetus in the womb the doctor simply tells the nurse: 'I think this calls for
sweets,' a well-known code to mean ‘Good news, it's a boy'. No documentation - the so-called paperwork is
done, so there is no evidence of illegal practices. For those involved in this racket, it is a lucrative source of
income, with a private doctor charging as much as Rs. 5000 for an abortion. The wider availability of
technology in urban areas accounts for the lower child sex ratio compared with rural areas.

The root causes leading to female foeticide are complex and reflect
diverse political, economic, social, cultural and religious practices, none of which justify such a violation of
human rights.’
1. Cultural Factors

India has an age old fascination with the boy child. The culture in
India is profoundly patriarchal and is a feudal society where women are neither seen nor heard. There is
societal pressure for women to have male children and as a result women are often considered failures and
tend to feel guilty after giving birth to a girl. Women who are considered to have less value because they
did not give their husbands a son are at risk of being beaten and rejected by their husbands. Giving birth to
a girl can lead to rejection by in-laws and by the community as a whole. "If you don't kill your girl, you are
rejected by the community and/or by your in-laws" according to Manjeet Rathee, an English teacher.

In the Hindu religion, the son is responsible for lighting his parents'
pyre, in order for them to reach Nirvana, and having only girls in the family amounts to being condemned
to a lower caste in the next world. In Punjab — where the illiteracy rate is close to 70 percent — there are
places of worship called "Son temples," exclusively for people who want a male child.

The superstitions are various and some are very detrimental to

girls. For example, Blessings and curses' of Eunuchs, who from village to village to curse mothers who
have girls while blessing those with baby boys. Another superstition is that if the first child is a girl and
that girl is the next child will be a boy.
2. Social and Economic Factors

Among the factors which lead to a consideration of females as less valuable, the
following are of special importance:

 Inheritance: In many regions of rural India there is a strict social taboo on a daughter inheriting land,
since if she does so the land is lost by her father's lineage. If a woman attempted to exercise her legal
claim to her share of her parents' immovable property, she would be likely to lose the affection of her
brothers together with their sense of obligation to support her in a family emergency or in the event
she is widowed without sons. The recent Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005 which deleted the
gender discriminatory clause on agricultural land only benefits Hindu women leaving intact the
obstacle faced by non-Hindu women.
 Furthermore, women in many rural areas are economically reliant on men who are traditionally the
breadwinners, custom which in turn impacts the imbalance in the employment sector.
 Having a boy allows the father to achieve better status in society, whereas having a baby girl is seen
as a curse.

Not only has the girl child been traditionally considered inferior to boys (she only does domestic chores)
but also as a liability — a bride's dowry can financially cripple a poor family. Moreover, the dowry practice
can deteriorate into a method of extortion of wealth from the bride's to the groom's parents, leaving many
daughters' parents in debt.

 "Raising a daughter is like watering someone else's field": deep-rooted saying among rural people in
China where elderly peasants traditionally can only depend on their sons.

Nevertheless, in the richest states like Haryana (India), sex

selective abortions are very common and also apply to well educated women, for whom the girls' deficit is
even twice as high as for illiterate women. So, illiteracy and poverty are not the only factors, though we
that much can be achieved through education and improved living conditions. There is evidence that
although the dowry was banned in India in 1961, and the caste tradition has been abolished, all these
customs are deeply rooted in society and still prevail. In some other areas of Asia, humiliation and even
death are often the punishments for a mother who gives birth to a girl, because of the economic hardship
and social stigma caused by a female child.

EFFECTS OF FEMALE FOETICIDE ON SOCIETY

Female foeticide has a serious impact on the society, in the overall

growth and development of the country. Let us discuss below the effects of female foeticide in India.
Skewed sex ratio: According to 2011 census, the child sex ratio in India was 919 females to 1000 males,
which declined from 927 females to 1000 males in the previous decade. Haryana, which is supposed to be
one of the richest states in India, takes the top most position in skewed sex ratio. Other prominent states
are Punjab, Delhi, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh etc. Skewed sex
ratios are seen in almost all the states of India, except in North East India and some of South India. Since
1991, more than 80% of districts in India have shown reducing sex ratio. Going by this, the next census by
2022 will definitely show a further reduction in sex ratios all over the country. It is horrifying to state that
illegal foetal sex determination and sex selective abortions have developed into a Rs. 1000 crore industry in
India.

Killing a girl child before or after she is born as an adverse effect on

the sex ratio and leads to further social evils. Skewed sex ratio, which is the result of female foeticide, has
other negative consequences in the society.

Shortage of girls for marriage: “Baljeet Singh, a truck driver of Haryana, gave up hope of finding a girl
for his marriage from is state Haryana. He was 30. He then got married to a young girl, half of his age,
from a Muslim community in Assam”.
 In a recent report by Red Cross Society, there is a large number of
bachelors who have crossed the marriageable age in Punjab and Haryana because of shortage of girls.
Eligible Jat boys from Haryana are seeking brides from areas which are far away from their home town,
like Kerala, to change their “single” status to “married”.

These are just a few instances. With fewer women, it is interesting

to notice the “Indian marriage market”. Mena are willing to pay a large amount of money to get married to
a girl from other states like Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal or Madhya Pradesh. The outcome is that while
the parents of the girl’s benefit, the girls themselves have to compromise their culture, dress, language and
food habits.

Trafficking and prostitution: Girls are kidnapped or stolen. They are sold and resold at various prices.
Eventually, they end up being prostitutes.

Increasing number of child Marriages: Many women from poverty zones or poverty- stricken families
get married before 180 years in order to survive and prevent being a burden to the family. The number of
child marriage is increasing. Girls get married to men double their age. They are forced to get married to
old men.
Increasing maternal deaths and ill-health of women: Killing of a foetus in the womb or abortion
weakens the health of a women. In some cases, the women have to undergo many abortions till they
conceive a male child. The outcome is that there is an increasing number of maternal deaths. Women
undergoing abortions are also more prone to infections and sickness.

Increase in polyandry: Munni, a young woman came, to Baghpat village, UP as a young bride, years ago.
She was then forced to have sex with her two unmarried brothers-in-law and bear children from them as
well. Today she is the mother of 3 sons from her husband and his brothers. Munni is still “unhappily
married” but she has not filed any complaint.

There are many such incidents happening in India. In most villages in India where female foeticide is
practiced, one wife lives with many unmarried brothers.
STATISTICS

In most of the countries in the world the sex ratio tends to be in favour
of women with an average of about 105 women for every 100 men. In India there are less than 93 women for
every 100 men in the population or only 927/[Link] Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh there
are now less than 800 girls for every 1000 boys. Karnataka has been registering an increase in female
foeticide over the last five years. Prenatal sex determination is becoming an emerging concern in the state.
The existence of son preference at an alarmingly high rate in our society is the root cause of imbalance sex
ratio.

Approximately 50 million girl foetuses have been victims of foeticide

in China. In India the number is estimated at 43 million and approximately 7 million more are credited to
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and South Korea. Because China and India account for 40% of the world’s
population, an imbalance in these two countries alone has a profound impact on global population statistics.
According to December 2007 UNICEF Report, India is missing 7,000 girls per day or 2.5 million each year.
(Washingston Times, February 26th 2007)

According to 7th All India Education Survey one out of every six girls
does not live to see her 15th birthday. Of the 12 million girls born in India, one million do not see their first
birth day. One third of these deaths take place at birth. Every sixth girl child’s death is due to gender
discrimination. (The Lancet, 2005) The study based on national survey of 1.1 million Indian household’s
claims that nearly 5,00,000 female babies are lost in India every year because of selective abortion. It is
estimated that at least 10 million female births may have been aborted in the past 20 years.

A study of Tamil Nadu by the Community Service Guild of Madras

similarly found that “female infanticide is rampant” in the state, though only among Hindu (rather than
Muslim or Christian) families. Of the 1,250 families covered by the study, 740 had only one girl child and 249
agreed directly that they had done away with the unwanted girl child. More than 213 of the families had
more than one male child whereas half the respondents had only one daughter. (Karelakar ,1995)
 According to survey of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) in the year
2009 the number of cases registered under were 123 but the number dropped in the year 2010 to 111.
However, in the year 2011 and 2012 the number of cases registered was 132 and 210 respectively.
According to the latest records 217 cases have been registered in the year 2013. No doubt there is a
constant increase in the registration of the cases on female foeticide but the judiciary is comparatively slow
in implementing the laws on female foeticide. Collection of evidence turns to be problematic as the crime
leaves no proof and is usually done in code words. The Ultra Sound Clinic staff and doctors prefer to deny
all such allegations as the family of the pregnant women who wish to go ahead with abortion if the foetus is
detected to be a female foetus pays them a heavy amount.
 CHAPTER 5
Measures taken for prevention of
female foeticide
 MEASURES TAKEN FOR PREVENTION OF FEMALE FOETICIDE

India today, is not a very women friendly place as those unborn are
not allowed to live and those alive are not allowed to live. To eradicate the menace of female foeticide from
Indian society one thing that certainly needs to be looked into is the law. Though changing the law or
making it stricter will not immediately and completely bring a solution, it’s a step. And when the evil is
established to be completely illegal, it is slightly easier to pin down the problem. There are 3 laws that need
to be looked into- one regarding Dowry, one concerning sex selection and finally one about abortion.

Delving into dowry laws is not very difficult – dowry is simply

illegal. Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act (1961) states that a person shall be deemed guilty if s/he
demands any dowry, directly or indirectly, from the parents or other relatives or guardian of a bride or
bridegroom. Section 3 of the same act condemns a person if s/he gives or takes or abets the giving or taking
of dowry. The Act defines dowry as any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either
directly or indirectly by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage (or by the parents of one
party or any other person to the other party or any other person) – basically, cash, property or valuable
security offered as precondition to the marriage. Stridhan (property of the woman) is legal, however.
Sex selection is covered under the Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 2002.
Originally, there was a Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994,
but due to the prevalence of pre-conception diagnosis, a newer law was put in order.

The PC & PNDT Act states that no place or doctor is authorized to

conduct pre-natal diagnostic techniques except for the purpose of detection of one or more of:

– chromosomal abnormalities;

– genetic metabolic diseases;

– haemoglobinopathies;

– sex-linked genetic diseases;

– congenital anomalies;

It also states that “no person including the person conducting pre-natal diagnostic procedures shall
communicate to the pregnant woman concerned or her relatives or any other person the sex of the foetus by
words, signs or in any other manner” and “no person shall, by whatever means, cause or allow to be caused
selection of sex before or after conception”.

Under the Act, the following people can be charged: everyone running the diagnostic unit for sex selection,
those who perform the sex selection test itself, anyone who advertises sex selection, mediators who refer
pregnant women to the test, and relatives of the pregnant woman. The pregnant woman is considered
innocent, “unless proved guilty”.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, legalizes

abortion – however, under certain conditions. It states that pregnancy can be terminated by at least one
registered medical practitioner (if the length of the pregnancy does not exceed 12 weeks) and by at least
two registered medical practitioners (if the length of the pregnancy is between 12 and 20 weeks) who are of
the opinion, formed in good faith, that

– the continuation of the pregnancy shall expose the woman to risk to her life or of grave physical or
mental health

(this includes women subjected to rape, and pregnancy induced by the failure of any contraceptive device or
technique used by a married couple)

– There is substantial risk that if the child is born s/he shall suffer from severe physical or mental
abnormalities

Pregnancies that can be terminated also include those in minors (under-18) or “lunatics” with the
permission of a guardian.
Judiciary in India has declared the year 2007 as the ‘Awareness year of female foeticide’. “The
system will deal strictly with those responsible for this crime”, Chief Justice of India Y K
Sabharwal, declared.

EVOLUTION OF THE LAW

India has witnessed a long-drawn process, defining the

evolution of an anti-female foeticide law. Here we highlight the most important milestones:
Key Stages
1976: The Centre banned sex-determination tests in government facilities.

1988: The Maharashtra Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, followed by similar acts by the
governments of Punjab, Gujarat and Haryana

1994: The Punjab Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Control & Regulation) Act

1994: The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Bill (introduced in
Parliament in 1991, passed in 1994)

1996, January 1: Enforcement of central Act in Punjab

December 1997: The Directorate of Health Services and Family Welfare, Punjab is appointed the
authority to implement the Act

Meanwhile, the IPC recognizes Female Infanticide as a punishable offence under the
Indian law.
ACTS AND REGULATIONS
The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994.

The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and

Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 was enacted and brought into operation from January 1, 1996.
Primarily, the Act prohibits determination and disclosure of the sex of foetus.
Key Definition:
An Act to provide for the regulation of the use of pre-natal
diagnostic techniques for the purpose of detecting genetic or metabolic disorders or chromosomal
abnormalities or certain congenital malformations or sex linked disorders and for the prevention of
the misuse of such techniques for the purpose of pre-natal sex determination leading to female
foeticide; and, for matters connected there with or incidental thereto

[20th September, 1994: Act No. 57 of 1994]

The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection)

Act, 1994
The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act was amended in
2003 to empower the above further in light of the new fertility technologies, which facilitate the
selection of the sex of the foetus before conception.

The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act and
Rules 1994 (as amended up to 2002) (the PCPNDT Act) mandates that sex selection by any person, by
any means, before or after conception, is prohibited.
Key Highlights:
The law chiefly provides for the following:
 Prohibition of sex selection, before and after conception
 Regulation of prenatal diagnostic techniques (e.g. amniocentesis and ultrasonography) for
detection of genetic abnormalities, by restricting their use to registered institutions. The Act
allows the use of these techniques only at a registered place for a specified purpose and by a
qualified person, registered for this purpose.
 Prevention of misuse of such techniques for sex selection before or after conception.
 Prohibition of advertisement of any technique for sex selection as well as sex determination.
 Prohibition on sale of ultrasound machines to persons not registered under this Act.
 Punishment for violations of the Act [5]
 Punishment for violations of the Act [5]

Violations carry a five-year jail term and a fine of about 2,300 U.S. dollars.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971

An Act to provide for the termination of certain pregnancies

by registered Medical Practitioners and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
[Act No. 34 of 1971, 10th August 1971]

Code of Medical Ethics

Constituted by the Indian Parliament in the Medical Council Act, 1956, the relevant
section of the Code of Medical Ethics states:
 On no account, sex determination test shall be undertaken with
the intent to terminate the life of a female foetus developing in her mother’s womb, unless there are
other absolute indications for termination of pregnancy as specified in the Medical Termination of
Pregnancy Act, 1971. Any act of termination of pregnancy of normal female foetus, amounting to
female foeticide, shall be regarded as professional misconduct on the part of the physician leading to
penal erasure besides rendering him liable to criminal proceedings as per the provisions of this Act
(Clause 7.6). It is here important to note that the penalty for unindicated sex determination and
female foeticide is striking off the name from the register apart from criminal action.
 CHAPTER 6
Conclusion and suggestion
 CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

This is the concluding part where the researcher has tried to come
up with a solution to prevent female foeticide. As observed, it is not poverty alone that makes families kills
their children. The community, too acts in strange ways to perpetuate the crime by ridiculing couples who
do not have a mal child illiteracy, ignorance of the welfare scheme available for the girl child and poverty
alleviation and the legal implication of indulging in female foeticide, and the dowry system are some of the
reasons for failure of the schemes and interventions undertaken by the government and NGOs to eradicate
female foeticide.

The long-term strategies should include education and

empowerment of women. Empowerment of rural marginalized women and education to improve their lot
will heighten their status in the society. As the women sangams and the federation gain in importance and
play a greater role in the development of the area, it is hopes that their presence and the politico-economic
strength they enable will help curb the practice.

Media-both print and electronic-plays a very significant role in

removing gender bias and developing a positive image of the girl child in the society, but in a county like
ours where there are problems in reaching the backward rural and tribal areas, a mix of mass media with
various traditional forms of communication may provide a more effective alternative to influence the
illiterate and the poor.

Enhancing sensitization to gender issues to influence the policy

makers, planners, administrators and enforcement machinery is another important strategy. The nodal
Department of Women and Child Development has already launched special efforts to develop a positive
image of the girl child and women.

It is not easy to change overnight the attitude of even women

towards females foeticide. Even if the women are prepared to understand and accept the need to change,
the social situation and the family environment prevent them from doing so. Therefore, young married
couples and pregnant women were given counselling so that they could cope with the situation, because
they are surrounded by in laws and neighbours who are pro-female foeticide.

The practice of using amniocentesis for sex determination shall be

banned through law and practitioners indulging in or abetting such acts shall be punished severely.
Amniocentesis, where necessary, will be performed only in government or approved medical institutions to
prevent the practice of using amniocentesis for purpose of sex determination Public education on the
illegality of foetal sex determination and sex selection abortion will be accompanied by positive messages on
the value of daughters Advertising of sex determination techniques shall be banned forthwith and
stringent measures will be taken against the offenders.

Media will be effectively use to bring about attitudinal changes

towards the girl child. There should be a trust on elimination of gender disparities in infant and under
child mortality, though gender sensitive monitoring in mortality starting from the field level. Priority will
be given for educating parents on the importance of providing adequate food for the girl child.

Extensive use of media for the sensitive promotion of a positive

image of women and girls. Development of school based strategies for inculcating of positive self-image
amongst girls. Concerted efforts to break the gender stereotypes particularly at the +2 level. Conscious
inputs into curriculum, textbooks, teacher education institutional planning supported by career guidance,
counselling. Special awareness generation programmes and campaigns to sensitize the public.

The strategy includes keeping a close watch on the pregnant women

for six months (three months before delivery and three months after it) to this end, panchayat-level
vigilance committees are to be formed, comprising two leaders from each sangam to undertaken vigilance
work in their respective villages. A special committee is to be formed within the federation, where main job
would be to keep a watch on pregnant women. Activate advisory, planning supervisory committees to work
closely with the district administration and block-level officers of various departments like health,
nutrition, police, BDO, village administrative officer and teachers.

Female foeticide programmes should include strategies to modify

and liberalize the traditional cultural values that are strongly held by the affected communities Form a
Collective of likeminded NGOs at the district level. For any such programmes to be effective, it must
cultivate in the affected communities more positive attitudes and acceptance of social change, particularly
in relation to girl children. Such intervention programmes should target middle socio-economic groups in
which the tendency and probability of female foeticide is supposed to be higher.

Also, these programmes should target the male population of the

affected communities, since compared to females, males are more vulnerable to developing a tendency
female foeticide. Since the probability of female foeticide is indicated in many of the affected communities.
NGOs working in these areas must build up legal and social pressure to counter this practice. Intervention
programmes for dais must be implemented.

Reporting of these deaths must be systematized. Some kind of

vigilant monitoring committee or group should be formed in the Panchyats, including the Chowkidar of
each village. Keep track of births and deaths. Maintain a record of birth/deaths sex wise as well as age
wise, and Monitor the upbringing of girl children in terms of nutrition a preventive health care.
B.R Sharma (2004) has suggested the following strategies to curb female foeticide in India:

Strengthening the existing laws: Though most laws are made in India with great fervour, their
execution is the main issue. Violations of the PNDT Act carry a five-year jail term and a fine as well;
however, while 23 cases have been registered under the Act so far, no one has been convicted. The reason
why the law has proved ineffective is because it is difficult to regulate all clinics that use ultrasound for sex
determination as well as for a host of other purposes including detection of genetic abnormalities in the
foetus. While the law seeks to punish sex determination, it is rendered ineffective because of the liberal
MTP Act which allows abortion on the ground of mental trauma. Even the blatant hoardings and
advertisements of sex determination seem to have disappeared, spread of information about clinic services
is now done by "word of mouth". Restricting the right to abortion to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy would
automatically curtail sex-selective abortion, since sex detection by ultrasound is only possible around the
15th week of pregnancy. Intensive IEC campaigns for raising awareness: The Government has recently
launched a "Save the Girl Child Campaign". One of its main objectives is to lessen the preference for a son
by highlighting the achievements of young girls. To achieve the long-term vision, efforts are afloat to create
an environment where sons and daughters are equally valued. The mass media must be involved in
promoting a positive image of women. School and College girls should be made as the target audience.
However, this should be combined with highlighting the issue and dangers of female feticide and skewed
gender ratio. Various NGOs are already taking an active lead in this area. It must be emphasized that
involvement of community leaders as well as influential persons would go a long way in assuring success in
such campaigns. However, the root causes of gender bias need to be tackled first and steps towards woman
empowerment must be strengthened".

Women Empowerment: Education of women is a powerful tool for improving nutrition levels, raising the
age at marriage, acceptance of family planning, improvement in self-image, and their empowerment. NGOs
may be encouraged to promote formation of self-help groups, organize non-formal education for adult
females and school drop outs, create employment opportunities for women as well as provide counselling
and support services to newly married and pregnant women to discourage them from undergoing MTP 18.

Role of Medical Colleges and Professional bodies: Last but not the least, the role of medical colleges
and professional bodies 'such as IMA, FOGSI and association of radiologists, in countering this burning
issue needs to be given due importance. This may include

 Sensitizing medical students who are the doctors of tomorrow; towards the adverse sex ratio while
stressing upon the ethical issues in female feticide.
 Conduct regular workshops/CMEs, which would greatly help to reiterate the importance of this
problem in the country. Private practitioners should also be encouraged to participate in such
programs.
  Organize awareness campaigns in field practice areas.

The working group on the Girl child in their written statement to 51st session of the Commission of the
status of Women -26th February to 9th March 2007 had come up with following strategies concerning the
role of NGO’s in the process of eradicating female foeticide.

It says, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should:

 make sure that:

* national governments implement international treaties;
* local governments are aware of women's and girls' rights;
* co-operation and information-sharing within the NGO community are facilitated.
 draw the attention of professional bodies (doctors, lawyers, social workers, etc..) to women and girls'
human rights and make them aware of equal rights between men and women.
 urge heads of different religious communities in the world to contribute toward making traditions
evolve according to the Beijing Platform for Action.
 support village (community) education committees with the help of specially trained educators in girls'
rights.
 promote programs including "gender equality' for teachers training children and adults.
 educate men/women, boys/girls to have a better understanding of the specific needs or situations of
women and girls (health, nutrition, security, empowerment...).
  reinforce girls ‘educational skills to empower them to become more self-reliant and thus less vulnerable
to conditions which can lead to death
 better support mothers through the establishment of feeding programs so girls can flourish.
 urge governments to:
* review and implement laws concerning sanctions for infanticide.
* foresee special allowances in the case of female birth.

Dr. K.C Jena (2008) has suggested some social actions that should be taken to curb female foeticide.

People both in rural as well as in urban areas have to be made

aware about the need of a female child in the social milieu as that of a son. A progressive legislation which
has certain deterrent facts. Many women are compelled to undergo tests and seek abortion on acceptable as
well as unacceptable grounds under compulsion. A new spirit has to be imbibed propagating that a female
child is not a curse. It is not a liability. It is not a drain of economy. It is not an instrument through which
dowry has to be given. A feeling has to be nurtured that she is the daughter, she is the mother and she is
the life partner.

Foeticide cannot be controlled unless the equation changes and

families begin to value their daughters more than they do at present. It does not take much to kill an infant
daughter even without the aid of technology, if she is unwanted. Among all the factors, which need
attention, education is the most important. In parts of South Asia where education and employment
opportunities for women are relatively high, the female to male ratio is comparable to that of the developed
countries. For instance, in Sri Lanka the sex ratio is 102 women per 100 men and in Indian state of Kerala
104 women per 100 men. This reflects towards the deep rooted manifold, short and long term effects of
education on the psyche and life pattern of people.

If we want to stop the female foeticide or neglect of women, we have

to stop looking for quick fixes and instead face the problem squarely. There is no way to ensure the healthy
survival of baby girls unless families find them worth nurturing. That is indeed a complex task, which
allows for no easy short term solutions. Activists intervention has led to curbing sex determination tests.
The real challenge before us is to figure out ways in which a realization of the value of daughters can be
enhanced in the eyes of their own families. All those who have a stake in it apart from the government
authorities, like women’s group, health groups, non-governmental organizations, the academia, the media
and most importantly the medical professionals have to play their part to see that the provisions are
implemented and the provisions are strengthened by amendments of the act. Unless social action is
supplemented with prompt implementation of regulations under the law meant to stop female foeticide,
such practices will continue to flourish. To ensure smiles on the faces of our youth, both boys and girls, let
us intensify joint efforts to root out unhealthy social elements. ‘NOW’ since future depends upon what we
do in the present.
CONCLUSION

Days are not so far, when there may be emergence of the situation where brides will not be available for
marriage of the sons to maintain lineage and continue the human race of even those who believe on long
standing tradition of son preference, that “only sons can offer Pyre Pindadana, Mukhagni and not the
daughters”. Therefore, it is felt that mind-sets of the people should be changed right from now toward the
importance of girl child in the family.

There is an urgent need to alter the demographic composition of India’s population and to
tackle this brutal form of violence against women. The enactment of any law is not sufficient, laws must be
adhered to and applied rigorously, before any change in status of women can take place. In spite of Pre-
Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act umpteen incidences of female foeticide are
taking place in India. There is still utmost controversy as to who will serve as underdog to control the
misuse of practice of female foeticide. Promoting gender balanced society involves targeting behavioural
changes in society which in turn involves a long term community based intervention, awareness
programmes, programmes to promote girl children’s right, addressing myths related to sons/daughters and
concerted efforts to change the mind-set of people. Sensitization of medical practitioners, enforcing a
system of ethics in the medical services available to people is an urgent need. It is indeed time to energize
efforts to put genders equality at the top of development agenda and contribute in whatever way we can to
give opportunities to girl children to bloom and shine.

Apart from the above, a feeling has to be inculcated in the minds of the people that she is
the daughter, she is the sister, she is the mother and she is the life partner of a man.
Annexure
Bibliography
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Gita Aravamudan 2007 Disappearing Daughters; The
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Madhusoodan Tripathi 2011 Female Foeticide in India; A Harsh Reality,
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Dhruv Dixit and Tara Sharma 2012 Female Foeticide, Pointer Publishers, Jaipur
D Harish and BR Sharma 2004 The Curse of Dowry, The Journal of Social
Welfware 50(11):4-6
M Karlekar 1995 The Girl Child in India: Does She Have Any
Rights? Canadian Women’s Studies (MarchIssue)
BR Sharma 2011 Female Feticide in India: Issues and
Concerns (Journal of Indian Academic of Forensic
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Krushna Chandra Jena 2008 Female Foeticide in India; A Serious Challenge for
the Society, Odisha review December