India: crusade against female foeticide launched - Women and Health - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

WIN News, Spring, 2002

CHETNA: CENTRE FOR HEALTH EDUCATION TRAINING AND NUTRITION AWARNESS LIAVATIBEN LALBHAIS BUNGALOW, CIVIL CAMP RD. SHAHIBAUG, AHMEDABAD-380004, GUJARAT, INDIA;

FAX: 91(79)2866513;

E-MAIL:CHETNA@ICENET.NET

WEBSITE:WWW.CHETNAINDIA.ORG

"Female foeticide is known to be widely prevalent in India. The fallout of this can be seen in the fact that the sex ratio in India has sharply declined from 972 at the turn of the cenury to 933, specifically, 941/1000 in rural areas, and 893/1000 in urban areas. This is one of the steepest declines recorded anywher in the word. In certain states like Haryana, the gap is as wide as 861 females per 1000 males. The paradox lies in the data from progressive and industrialised states like Gujarat where the sex ration has fallen from 954 in 1901, to 919 in 2001. Statistics show wide spread and continuing gender bias.

Demographers believe that accessibility to sex determination and safe medical termination of pregnancies have aggravated the problem. Also, the combination of patriarchy and feudalism embedded in the fabric of our society have made matters worse. While the dowry system and poverty play a crucial role in the community's preference for a male child, the bias against the female child by relatively well off people needs to be probed. Better living standards do not necessarily ensure a better status for the female child. The Indian Government passed the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act in 1994. The Act states that the pre-natal diagnostic techniques shall be used to detect abnormalities as specified. The Act prohibits individuals and genetic clinics/ centers from using pre-natal diagnostic techniques to determine the sex of a foetus.

It is presumed that the women who are forced to undergo the test by their husbands or relatives, are liable to be held as abettors to the Act. A misuse of the procedure can result in three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10,000 as well as suspension of the registration of the doctor convicted. Inspite of the act, there has been a lack of will to implement it.. . One of the main problems with the law is that since the women and their families, as well as the doctor and clinic/hospital do not report the offence themselves, reporting of the crime in non-existent.

It is therefore up to the state to evolve a system with a strong enforcement mechanism to monitor the strict implementation of the Act if there is to be any amelioration from the existing state of affairs. Taking cognizance of the situation, the State Government is planning an effective and focused action plan for women empowerment including female literacy and awareness, as well as improving health services in the State.

Looking at the longterm manifestation of this evil practice, the National Commisssion for women (NCW) New Delhi decided to organise state level workshops as a follow up of the national convention held on 24th June 2001. Rising to the occasion, CHETNA organised one such workshop last September at Ahmedabad in collaboration with National Council of Women to create awarness on the issue of female foecide in Gujarat.