Female foeticide is as bad as 'sati' custom: Gujarat CM Anandi Patel

Without mincing words, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel on Saturday said female foeticide was as evil a custom as the old practices of 'sati' or 'doodhpeeti'.

"There was a time when our legendary leaders abolished the traditions like sati (women immolating themselves on the husband's funeral pyre) and doodhpeeti (the practice of killing the unwanted new-born girl by drowning her in vat of milk). Now this modernised society is witnessing the cases of female foeticide, this is shameful," Patel said. The Chief Minister was speaking at the two-day 'National Youth Convention' in Valsad. 

"Women's situation can be improved only if they are given proper education. Education is the only solution for their betterment. A country or a state where women are not given education remains under-developed," Patel added.
She also pointed out that Gujarat government had announced that it would build toilets in every house with the people's participation. Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Clean India' campaign, Patel said the women should take extra efforts to keep the society clean.