SMishra

· 11 Nov 2021

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How Is India Tackling With Female Foeticide?

Female Foeticide- The History
Female foeticide is a major problem in India for ages. The main cause of the problem lies around the ideology that men are breadwinners and women are a burden to the household. Though female foeticide was there for years before sex determination technology became available, it skyrocketed during the 1990s when ultrasound technology became more popular.

The government realized that the technology is being misused and brought up the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (1994), according to which it is a punishable offense to determine the sex of fetus unless for a medical emergency.

The Indian government also passed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) act in 1971, which was amended in 2002. The act allows abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy if “the continuance of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or of grave injury to her physical or mental health”. Though the act allowed abortions, it doesn’t give the power for women to take an autonomous decision on having an abortion.


Causes :
•    The main reason for female foeticide is found to be the dowry system. Many families feel they can’t afford the dowry and hence choose female foeticide.
•    It is often thought that males will continue the legacy of the family while investing in female is waste as she will go to her in law’s home and be a part of it
•    Parents choose to have a son as they believe that giving birth to a son is a path to heaven.
•    Some parents think the world is unsafe for a girl child and hence they choose female foeticide as they are worried about getting her educated and married.

Present Female Foeticide Situation In India

According to a recent study by United Nations Population Fund( UNFPA), 2020, themed ‘ Against My will- Defying the practices that harm women and girls and undermine equality ’, in India around 4.6 crore girls went ‘missing’ in 2020.

According to the study, ‘missing females’ as those whose number got reduced due to gender-biased sex selection during birth along with excess female mortality stemming from post-natal sex selection.

The main reason behind such an alarming decrease rate is the strong preference of son over daughter, lack of female education, and unemployment. The easy access to technology that is supposed to help in family planning has made it easier to abort the female fetus.

Readfull report here:
https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/UNFPA_PUB_2020_EN_State_of_World_Population.pdf 

Solution :

Female foeticide has its roots in the patriarchal mindset. The solution to such a complex issue lies in educating people regarding the same. Educating females have proved the decrease in female foeticide. Employing women, giving them equal opportunities as men will drive people against female foeticide. Educating men on safe sex practices is equally necessary. It is important to strictly implement the law as illegal female foeticide is alarmingly increasing. Creating awareness camps will be a bit of help as well.

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