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Stop Female Foeticide – Save the Girl Child

Published on: August 16, 2014 | Updated on: November 12, 2016

In spite of over six decades of Independence, in spite of India making rapid progress in science, technology and other fields, the picture that we see of India as of now is not one that can be appreciated, especially in terms of its treatment to the fairer sex. Discrimination against girl children, parents’ neglect of the girl child, illegal abortions and female infanticide are clear instances of this. The practice of female foeticide, which is illegal, is still prevalent in our country. There is one section of the Indian society which is trying its level best to be liberal in their thoughts, although aping the Western culture. On the other hand, there is another section of the society, in fact a large chunk of it, which is still in the clutches of orthodox views and thoughts.

Female foeticide is one such grave social problem arising out of the so-called “traditional thoughts” of our society. Illegal abortion of the female foetus is done due to family pressure from in-laws, husband or the woman’s parents, and the reasons for this are preference of son, girls being considered as a burden, poverty, illiteracy, social discrimination against women etc.

Consequences of female foeticide in India

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, Gujarat, 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 a 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 abortion have developed into a Rs. 1000 crore industry in India.

Killing a girl child before or after she is born has 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 his 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 the 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”. Men 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 girls 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 varied prices. Eventually, they end up being prostitutes.

Increasing number of child marriages: Many women from poverty zones or poverty-stricken families get married before 18 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 woman. 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.

Conclusion

Ironically, female foeticide takes place in a country where people worship various forms of Goddesses, and where females are considered as Maa Laxmi’s incarnation and where young girls are worshipped and people touch their feet for blessings. But even then, the intentional killing of the girl child continues. Such is the double standards of our society. Right to education, health and empowerment are the fundamental rights of every Indian woman. The horrible illegal practice of female foeticide has to be stopped by harsh laws and change in the mind-set of the people. Save the girl child for a better tomorrow!!!

Rumani Saikia Phukan

I am an experienced web content management professional with a sound understanding in website content development, content editing, SEO, and internet research. I love blogging, cooking, listening to music and watching TV. I have a passion for writing on anything that interests me. Married and mother of 2 kids, I enjoy my work and try to maintain a balance between my professional and personal life. Fun loving and God fearing, I take life as it comes.

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Showing 14 Comments :

Alka March 8, 2017 at 5:00 am

Am 27 Yr old, my parents they never realized me that u are a girl child… But after my marriage… 13 Aug 2014 I realized what is the status of girls how cruel people are towards them and now I feel sometimes why mother has given me birth just to face such kind of cruelty… It would be very normal thing for boys and their family to get divorce ,but for me it is like I have ruined my life…. This is the status of girls in the Society…boys can bribe the money to get themselves to free from these issues…. But what about me…. Where should I go…. How could I survive myself……so no need to appreciate this thing… Save girl child…. Better to kill them before birth so that girls like me doesn’t face such kind of cruelty in life .

madhusmita jali November 2, 2016 at 3:11 pm

Yes sir it is really true why our society not give equal rights to a female.everyone known without girls the nature is not servive.and a female lead a majar role in offspring .when a male child delivered then all are smile.when a female child delivered then she flight against whole world for service.

mohan February 25, 2016 at 11:30 pm

in my area on of d reputed hospital is revealing and gender and helps in abortion for female child. how can I stop these or to whom I have to complain about these things ?

My India February 26, 2016 at 10:58 am

Write a Letter to Ministry of Women & Child Development, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi,110001 (http://wcd.nic.in/contactus)

athri November 24, 2015 at 7:44 pm

the people mind is set very wrong …..we are INDIANS to be proud….. we have aa responsiblty on India …..we have to stop this……

kavita November 20, 2015 at 1:33 am

Thank u its really help me to grasp the topik on female foeticide nd by reading so many things I understand which I don’t know before having this.

Fight4theFoetus August 15, 2015 at 9:43 pm

In less than a decade from now, the diminishing sex ratio is going to cause total chaos in our social and economic life. By then, the decreasing child sex ratio of the first decade of the third millennium will be the horrifyingly skewed youth sex ratio of the third decade. All type of anti-social trends like the selling of women as goods and widespread violence against women will destroy our family life, social life and economic progress which are now held in high esteem by the world community.

In spite of the efforts made by the central, state and local governments, NGOs, UN Agencies, other civil society organisations and the media, the child sex ratio continues its downward trend in most of the states. Here is an early warning and call for intervention to all, especially those who love our country and its future.

harvinder bedi July 23, 2015 at 12:10 am

Friends think jab parents hi nhi chahta female ko janam dena to him unka dimag nhi basal site he kehna aasan hai save girl but jab kisi ki 3’4beti hoti hai to vo female baby nhi chahta agar test Na krvay to baby boy ki hope mein janam to deta hai par bad mein Jo janam se end take ki life Jo suffer krni pdti hai girl ko won who btaa skti hai aisi zindagi bchane she schha hai won janam hi Na me phir bad mein him mein she koi nhi jata uski help krne phir akele slogan ka kya fayda ‘save girl’?