What remains unsaid is the perverse mindset that male child is the torch bearer of family even in an age where women have proved their mettle in all spheres.
After having a daughter, Prerna (27) went in for a sex determination test to ensure her second child was a son. The young professional working in a multinational company does not abhor a girl child.
But she was convinced by her mother-in-law and husband they should be practical in life and settle for a small and what they call as a square family — -one son and one daughter. There was no shame or guilt involved. Instead, they felt why not make the most of the advanced scientific techniques.
A young housewife in Beed (Marathwada) narrates how hi-tech machine (PNDT) saved her the trauma of bearing more daughters. The line between what is ethical and practical is getting blurred.
Those looking for precision in delivering the male child no longer feel criminal. If we have the machine, why not make the best, they ask. Oblivious to the larger danger of gender imbalance in society they live.
To make matters worse, the court kicked off another debate on the issue when it raised a question (though not the final verdict) as to why should a couple not be allowed to go for sex determination test for a male child after having two girl children.
Not withstanding the different voices across the social spectrum, the answer in a progressive state like Maharashtra is: there is no question of giving sanctity through legislation to any act which will ultimately promote sex discrimination.
The biggest question confronting the law makers and administrators who are planning to make the laws more stringent to book the families and medical doctors promoting sex discrimination is how to change the mindset of the people.
The killing of female foetus is prevalent among highly educated and economically prosperous families as well in the distant districts places where private nursing homes are well-equipped with conducting the pre-natal diagnostic techniques (PNDT) tests.
According to health minister Vimal Mundada, “The shocking aspect is that killing of female foetus is higher among literate higher middle class families. Or else how does one explain the shameful sex ratio decline in Mumbai (922) compared to backward Gadchiroli (968).”
Apart from the awareness campaign the government has decided to beef its vigilance against nursing homes and private practitioners misusing the sonography machines to abort female foetuses.
It has banned the use of mobile sonography machines which were cost-effective and easy to operate in smaller towns and districts places. Officials statistics show there are 5,500 registered centres conducting sonography.
The administration admits they have no full-proof monitoring method to keep a check on every individual who aborts the foetus. Often, the doctors are willing to give a medical certificate justifying the abortion. That makes it difficult for the administrators to confront the medical experts on the issue.
The alarming decline in girl child ratio has forced the political parties to launch a public campaign and also highlight the issue in its manifestoes. Everybody has expressed serious concern over the decline in the number of girl children across the country.
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