‘Sex selection is rampant as implementation of laws is poor’

Though the country welcomed the birth of Nargis as the symbolic, seven billionth baby who highlights the issue of female foeticide, the plight of the girl child continues. Social activist and founder of the Satara-based organisation Lek Ladki, Varsha Deshpande, minces no words while criticising the government’s attitude of focusing on campaigns rather that strict implementation of laws to curb the problem.

Deshpande, who has exposed many doctors involved in sex selection through sting operations, feels that Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Tests (PCPNDT) Act is the key to resolve issues. Deshpande’s organisation, which will be holding a state-level conference on PCPNDT at Solapur on November 12 and 13, spoke with Bhagyashree Kulthe.

What is the objective of the Solapur conference?
Various organisations from all the districts in Maharashtra working for girl child will be participating in the conference. The aim is to strengthen the network of such organisations in order to pressurise the government for strict implementation of PCPNDT. Declining sex ratio, gender discrimination and domestic violence will be the central point of discussion. We aim at starting a state-level agitation against the government’s lethargic attitude towards girl child. The state is yet to implement women’s policy and the women’s commission is still without a chairperson.

Inadequate budgetary provisions for implementation of laws, lack of infrastructure, no action against guilty and other related issues will be highlighted in this conference.

How significant is the birth of a girl as the world’s seven billionth baby? Do you think this will help turn the spotlight on the girl child?
I would like to emphasise on the fact that we need to focus more on taking action to stop the killing of female foetuses. What is happening is that emphasis is being laid on campaigns rather than using the law as a whip to punish those who are responsible for the plight of girl child.

Creating awareness is okay but what about bringing the culprits to justice. We have to create an environment where the culprits will have to think twice before killing a female foetus. Nothing is happening on the ground level. The abuse of females continue, sex selection is rampant and those guilty are roaming free. All this is happening because the implementation of laws is poor.

What should be the immediate step to control the skewed sex ratio?
Effective implementation of PCPNDT Act is a must. However, this is not happening. The doctors guilty of violating the laws are still practising. There is no check on the hospital records or on the sonography centres. The government has no idea about how many sonography machines are functioning in the state. There is no control on the sale of these machines. The politicians just don’t care about why the public prosecutors are failing to punish the culprits who violate the PCPNDT Act. Awareness campaigns alone cannot help solve these problems.