Bidita Dilip Bhattacharyya
(biditabhattacharyya@gmail.com)
''A girl child is a pride and the future of the nation. Empowering your girl child means empowering your future." The development of technology has paved the way for medical science. It is fortunate enough that in today's world every impossible aspect of life is becoming possible for the growth of human civilization. But with these new technologies, some are misusing them also. One of the misuses of such modern technologies results in female foeticide. Despite the right to equality given under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, gender-selective abortion is still practised in society. It is against the law of nature. In other words, it is always wrong to disturb the sex ratio. As per the records, the natural sex ratio is supposed to be between 103 and 107. Any number above it is considered suggestive of female foeticide. In today's world, it is unfortunate to see the practice of female foeticide, whereas girls are playing equal roles just like boys in every aspect of life. Starting from nation pride Lovlina Borgohain, Avani Chaturvedi, Mithali Raj, Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, Hima Das, Kalpana Chawla to a never-ending list that states girls are equal in all deeds like boys."Female foeticide is one of the ill practices that promote gender discrimination. Basically, Female foeticide refers to identifying the sex of the foetus and undergoing abortion if the foetus is female. In countries like India, it is illegal. But still, people practice it. By the late - 1980s and the early 1990s, ultrasound techniques were popular all over India. This results in the spread of female foeticide practice.
It is in the year 1994, the Indian government passed the Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. This act states that gender-selective abortion is illegal. But some people are still practising female foeticide. It is one of the earliest stages that discriminate against girls before leaving their mother's womb. The child sex ratio is higher in the northwestern states of India. According to 1991,2001 and 2011 Census data, Urban India has a higher child sex ratio than rural India. In the year 2009, the National Crime Record Bureau's (NCRB) survey states that the number of cases registered under is 123 but in 2010 it dropped to 111.
It is also to be noted that in 2011 and 2012 the number of cases registered under is 132 and 210. And in 2013 it is found to be 217 cases."There are various causes behind the practice of female foeticide. One of the biggest causes is patriarchy. In which males are given importance in every aspect of society and only males hold primary power in all spheres of life. It results in a belief that a girl cannot continue the family lineage and the parents shall be left on their own during their old age. Dowry System, Alien money (Paraaya Dhan), Sati practice and child marriage has also promoted female foeticide. Lack of education among people also results in female foeticide. People continue to believe in illogical thinking. The Orthodox Society states that the birth of a daughter is just an investment with no returns because one day daughter will marry away and will live with her husband. Therefore female foeticide is highly practised among people of such thinking. Increase crime against women has led people to think that women lives are full of suffering and it will be better to do an abortion before they are born. It is also to be noted that corruption in the medical field has also led to gender-selective abortion for a handsome amount of money. The consequences of female foeticide are much higher. According to the latest records, the number of girls per 1000 boys is 927 in 2001. Female foeticide has led to a skewed sex ratio. Female trafficking has also increased because of the decline in the number of girls. It is becoming a curse for an entire society. Does it pose as to how human civilization can survive without females? With the decrease of females, there are lesser mothers or wombs to give birth. It will lead women to become imperilled species which will increase rape and sexual assaults."A man alone cannot expand a family without a woman. Both men and women have equal roles in the development of society. There is always an important role of government to make the public realise the fact that males and females are dependent on each other. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, CBSE Udaan Scheme, One Stop Centre Scheme popularly known as Shakti, Ladli Scheme of Haryana, Karnataka Bhagyashree Scheme, Mahila- E - Haat and many more schemes are taken by the government of India to improve female's status in society. Education is also a key tool in stopping crimes against women. There must be efforts to promote female's education compulsory. Non- governmental organizations should also take initiatives like arranging awareness campaigns to make the general public aware of females importance in human civilization. It is high time to make people realize that female foeticide is becoming a curse to society. Daughters are the reason why new generations are born. And it is our responsibility to save them. Otherwise, the entire human civilisation will collapse one day.""SaveDaughter Child."Save Human Civilization".