SAP

Reality of Female Feticide in India

Presented to:-

Presented By:-

Dr. Rishipal

Mr. Nikhil Satija

MBA (B&F), 4TH SEM.

Abstract
Female foeticide and infanticide is a serious Human Rights issue that plagues India. Over the last 20
years, these havebeen rampant in certain regions and have left behind some long lasting effects.
Increasing cases of crime against women, poor implementation of womens inheritance laws,
discouraging girls from getting an education are some of these. Educating both men & women on issues
pertaining to womens rights and stopping illegal sexselective abortions are some ways to combat this cancer.

Female Feticide:
Female feticide is the selective abortion/elimination of the girl child in the womb itself, done deliberately by
the mother, after the detection of the childs gender through medical means. This is usually done under familial
pressure from the husband or the in-laws or even the womans parents. Unplanned pregnancy is generally the
reason behind abortion. However, female feticide is a far more heinous sin than the age old practice of killing
an unwanted child, even before its born.
Like many societies around the world, India too is patriarchal in nature. A set hierarchical system prevails in all
tiers of the social order. The fanatic obsession with the male sex, though, is one of a kind. Right from the
ancient scriptures, one finds instances where men are glowingly praised as the key to continue the family
lineage. A girl is forced to undergo multiple pregnancies and (or) abortions, until she fulfills her lifelong goal
of being a breeding machine that produces male offspring as per the needs of the family.
Sadly, a majority of female feticide cases involve an enthusiastic participation of women, both old and young.
To add fuel to the fire, unethical sex determination and selective abortion of female infants has become a
booming US $224 million industry- a dangerous incentive for this transgression to prosper further in the near
future.

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 feticide, 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 feticide 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
Womans parent , and the reasons for this are preference of son, girls being considered as a burden, poverty,
illiteracy, social discrimination against women etc.

Reason for single out the female child:

What makes India, which venerates the Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi,
Art & Science Saraswati, hate its daughters? Possible reasons:

and the Goddess of Knowledge,

1. Sons ensure the continuation of the family:

a. In a predominantly patriarchal society like India, the concept of family is limited only to a surname,
women are unfortunately seen as temporary guests, who ultimately have to leave and join their true
family, that of their husband.

2. India is traditionally an agrarian economy, though this is rapidly changing. More sons meant
more hands to help in the fields that increased productivity hence income:
a. But more sons also means more heirs, greater division of land, leading to the shrinking size of land
holding.
.
b. Women across Indias length and breadth from the paddy field workers in the Southern states of Kerala,
Tamil Nadu to the women threshing wheat in the fields of the great Punjab have proved that women are
disciplined and hard workers.
3. Sons will bring wealth into the family through dowry, while daughters only mean expenditure
and wealth depletion:
What once began as a means of giving a daughter her fair share in the family property at the time of her
marriage by her parents as streedhan that literally translates to womans wealth, so that later on she was not forced to beg
or fight her brothers has degenerated to a terrible social custom of the brides family providing dowry to the grooms
family for taking their daughters hand in marriage. The better the match the higher the dowry.
4. Sons will be able to take care of ageing parents while daughters will not do so as they are
dependent on their husbands and parentsinlaw:

a. The joint family system husband, wife, children, paternal grandparents, families of the husbands
brothers staying together that still exists in most rural and semiurban centers gives women very little
voice in their daytoday activities. In such an instance, asking for help in looking after ones ageing
parents is difficult if not impossible.
b. Women today are increasingly turning out to be better caregivers and more dependable than sons,

there is little data available to support this, but the ghats of Varanasi are teeming with widows
abandoned by their families4 sons, brothers and fathersinlaw i.e. men.

5. Girls need to be protected from the big, bad world or they will bring shame to the family:
a. By trying to marry of their own choice, and may be in to the wrong social class/caste/community, girls
bring shame to the family. It is interesting how an alcoholic son, or may be one with a gambling or
addiction problem, a molester or rapist are not seen in the same light. Honor killings of girls and women
are common in certain regions of India and the subcontinent.

Female feticide or infanticide is a crime:

The PreConception and PreNatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act and Rules
1994 (as amended up to 2002) dictates that sex selection by any person, by any means, before or after
conception, is prohibited. Culprits can be punished with a jail term of up to five years.
Doctors, lab technicians, hospitals & clinics, nurses and other support staff all can be charged in case of
violations. Hospitals can lose their licenses, and so can doctors. But this is a light deterrent and regulating
quacks, unlicensed clinics and hospitals is difficult
Thankfully, infanticide is equivalent to murder in the eyes of the law, with special emphasis on the
heinousness of the crime and the vulnerability of the victim the girl child.

Where does this lead us:

1. Fewer women eligible to marry Haryana, a state in northern India that followed this cruel practice is now
reaping the poison of its actions. Men are forced to travel over 3000 km to find suitable brides and sometimes
even pay for the same 5. Women from outside Haryana might not be able to adjust to the culture and
patriarchal society of the place leading to higher divorces and instances of domestic violence.
a.

Polyandry is another outcome of this situation and many tribes and families in backward areas are being
forced to adopt this illegal practice.

2. Increasing crimes against women Rapes, molestations, lewd behavior against women in both rural areas
and cities have increased sharply over the years. Womens groups are fighting for an amendment in the
existing laws the terminology of verbal and physical molestation needs to be changed from eve teasing
to sexual harassment .
3. Women losing their place in society With fewer women their representation in places of importance
like parliament, the judiciary, civil services will decline. With girls being hidden behind closed doors
for fear of the outside world that is out to harm them, we will have generations of women not reaching
their true potential for want of opportunity.

Mistakes to be Corrected:A singular approach in tackling this malaise might not bring about the change that is required. A multi
pronged strategy is required to stop the dwindling numbers of girls and correct the havoc brought about by
years of systematic crime.
The four pillars in this fight to increase the lopsided sex ratio could be:
1. Abolishing dowry and strengthening the laws against it:
a. The current Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 limits the maximum punishment that the crime of demanding
and accepting dowry can warrant, at five years. This needs to be increased to further discourage the
practice of seeking dowry.
2

Stronger inheritance laws for women-irrespective of religion:

a. The Hindu Succession Act of 1956 did not grant equal status to daughters in the division of the family
property until its amendment in 2004.

b. However the laws applicable to other communities in India do not bestow upon women the same benefits
and rights. These need to be amended and common law for all religions could evolve giving equal rights
to be enjoyed by all women.
c. By allowing every woman, irrespective of religion, to a share in inheritance, the chances of her being at
the mercy of others is reduced and allow her the status, dignity and power to make her own choices.
3. Illegal doctors and prenatal clinics offering sexdetermination and sexselective abortions to be
suspended and banned:
a. The efforts in this endeavor need to be encouraged and monitored to prevent the final act of terminating
a pregnancy based on gender determination.
4.

Educating people on the ill effects of female feticide & infanticide and the rights of women:
a. The most important way to curb this malaise is to educate the youngest generation school and college
students and women on the evils of female feticide & infanticide. The rights of women also need to be
discussed more openly to foster a culture where the rights of a woman are not begrudged and her choices
are respected and supported.
b. This is also an area that we are sorely lacking in as our education system that does not spend much time
or give much emphasis on this subject.
c. Encouraging women to participate in local governing bodies right from the gram panchayat or
village council level will be a step in this direction.
Only when a culture that supports and encourages women in every sphere is created can women
reach their true potential and are no more seen as a liability and burden by their loved ones.