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Female Foeticide:
Implications for India
Dr. Vibhuti Patel, Director, PGSR
Prof. & HOD, University Department of Economics,
SNDT Womens University,
Smt. Nathibai Thakersey Road,
Churchgate, Mumbai-400020
Phone-26770227, Mobile-9321040048
E mail: vibhuti.np@gmail.com
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Declining Sex Ratio
Demographic Profile
Population of India 102.7 crores
Males 53.1 crores
Females 49.6 crores
Deficit of women 3.5 crores
Sex ratio 933 Women/1000 Men
Child Sex Ratio 927 girls for 1000 boys
Source: Census of India, 2001.
Reasons:
Selective abortion of female foetuses after
identifying sex of foetuses with the help of
ultrasound techniques.
Selective fertilisation of male embryo with the help of
pre-conception sex selective technologies and IVF.
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Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994
& PCPNDT Act, 2002
To stop the abuse of advanced scientific
techniques for selective elimination of female
foetuses through sex -determination, the
government of India passed the PNDT Act in
1994. But the techno-docs and the parents
desirous of begetting only sons had
subverted the act.
The Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostics
Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse)
Amendment Act, 2002 received the assent of the
President of India on 17-1-03. Conviction for the culprit:
3-year imprisonment, Fine:Rs. 50000/-
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Son Preference and Neglect of Daughters
Educated families : small family norm
The propertied classes do not desire daughter/
daughters because after marriage of the
daughter, the son-in-law may demand share in
property. The most skewed sex ratio
The property-less classes
1.dispose off daughters to avoid dowry
harassment. But they dont mind accepting
dowry for their sons.
2.Birth of a son is perceived as an opportunity for
upward mobility while birth of a daughter is
believed to result in downward economic
mobility.
3.Son as Social Security for old age
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Female foeticide/ infanticide
In several states of India- Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and
Tamilnadu sex-selective abortions of female
foetuses have increased among those who
want small families of 1 or 2 or maximum 3
children.
Communities, which were practicing female
infanticide, started using sex-selective
abortions.
As per 2001 census: 60 lakh Missing Girls
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Declining sex ratio and Status of women
The neo-classical logic of Law of Demand and
Supply does not apply to the complex social
forces where patriarchy controls sexuality,
fertility and labour of women without any
respect to her bodily integrity. We cant
apply law of DD & SS.

In fact, shortage of women in Haryana, Punjab,
Gujarat and the BIMARU states have
escalated forced abduction and kidnap of
girls, sex slavery, cruel flesh market, bride
bazaars, forced polyandry (Panchali system,
Modern Draupadis), swap marriages, sale of
wives, gang rape and child-prostitution.
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Juvenile Sex Ratio in Kerala, 2001
The overall sex ratio is favourable to
women is Kerala. But, in Kerala also, in the
0-6 age group, the sex ratio was 963, as
per 2001 census. Total 0-6 age-group
population of Kerala was 36.5 lakhs. Out of
this 18.6 lakhs were male babies and
infants and 17.9 lakhs were female babies
and infants. Thus, 79760 female babies and
infants were missing in 2001 in Kerala.
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Increasing Female Literacy & Declining Sex Ratio
In a micro-study of Kolkata, the Census Report
observes, Out of 141 municipal wards, the
percentage of child population has declined in
134 wards since 1991. More importantly, the
child sex ratio has declined sharply, from a
high of 1011 females per 1000 male children
in 1951 to abysmal 923 in 2001. This is the
lowest child sex ratio for Kolkata in the last
50 years. A major cause for the decline is sex
selective foeticide.

Rates of female foeticide have increased along
with the increase in female literacy rates in
West Bengal.
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Sex Ratio among the States with Widespread
Use of Sex Determination Tests (O-6 yr. age gp.)
WIDENED GENDER GAP
FROM BIMARU TO DEMARU: Prosperity Effect
Source: Census of India, 2001
States 1991 2001
Punjab 875 793
Haryana 879 820
Gujarat 928 878
Maharashtra 946 917
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Do Women Have
A CHOICE ?
An argument that prenatal diagnostic tests give
women a choice to select a child of desired
sex is also unacceptable as women's
"Choices" are made within the patriarchal
compulsions to produce sons. Women are not
taking decision autonomously. Threat of
desertion, divorce and ill treatment force
them to opt for sex-determination and sex-
pre-selection tests.
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We will have to change the mindset of doctors
and clients, create a socio-cultural milieu that
is conducive for girl childs survival and
monitor the activities of commercial minded
techno-docs thriving on sexist prejudices.
Then only we will be able to halt the process
of declining sex ratio resulting into deficit of
girls/women.
Can we allow Indian women to be an
Endangered Species ? NO.
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Advertisement of SD test is Banned
Any institution or agency whose
advertisement or displayed promotional
poster or television serial is suggestive of
any inviting gestures involving/supporting
sex determination.
MASUM, Pune made a complain to the
Maharashtra State Womens Commission
against Balaji Telefilms because its top rated
television serials episode telecast during
February 2002 showed a young couple
checking the sex of their unborn baby.
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The PNDT Rules tighten the Screws
All bodies under PNDT Act namely Genetic
Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratories or
Genetic Clinic cannot function unless
registered. They have to maintain records and
send a complete report in respect of all pre-
conception or pregnancy related procedures/
techniques/ tests by 5
th
of the following month
to the appropriate authorities. Vigilance
Committees- Raids
Record of the clinics, sonography machines,
public education thro mass media, training
programme, poster- campaign by the state.
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Government Initiatives
Cradle baby scheme
PCPNDT Cell by the Central Government
Sting operations and raids
Media publicity
Registration of scan centers & action against
unregistered prenatal diagnostic centers
Constitution of State and District level
Appropriate Authorities
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Action Plan-Preventive
Changing the mindset of doctors,
anganvadi workers, mid-wives, Village
health workers, Gram sevikas, SHGs, PRIs
who say All intelligent people get
ultrasound done.
Proactive role of FOGSY, MCI, IMA
Strict conviction of doctors caught for
blatant violation of PCPNDT Act, 2002.
Stringent punishment to traffickers of girls
and women from Karnataka to Gujarat,
Bengal to Punjab, Orissa-Assam-Bihar-
Jharkhand to Haryana and U.P.
Public education in local languages thro
community radios, T.V., posters
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Action Plan-Promotive
Lessons with positive portrayal of girl
children in curriculum at primary,
secondary, high school, college and
university levels
Publicity of best practices-Khothran in
Navashehar, Fiscal bonds to parents with
only girls given by Patels of Kheda District
Implementation of womens right to
property
Assured schooling, healthcare, employment
and legal equality to daughters
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Incentivise Girl Child Parenthood-
Gold Card Citizens
Tamper-proof identity card should
be issued to each parent of a girl
child, carrying the necessary data.
The possession of such a card must
give the parents of the girl child
every economic advantage that the
government can bestow.
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Advantages for Girl Child Gold Card holders
Eligibility for 50 per cent of allotments of
housing plots in housing schemes, telephone
and gas connections, petrol pumps, gas
agencies, ration shops, industrial plots,
municipal permits for shops and other
facilities, RTO licenses for auto rickshaws,
taxis, bus services and transport vehicles
and all types of industrial licensing.

In rural areas, birth of a girl child should
entitle the parents to a housing plot in the
joint names of the parents and the daughter.
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Economic Incentives for parents of Girls
Extra sugar and kerosene rations must be given for a
year to a family having a ration card, on the birth of a
girl child.

All employees should also be entitled to a special
increment on the birth of a girl child, which should
continue every year until the child turns 18.

The payment of this financial incentive should be a
tax-deductible expenditure for the employer.

Other fiscal incentives could also be explored such
as a special 0.25 per cent rebate on sales tax on the
production of the Girl Child Gold Card.

All the allotments and licenses should be in the name
of the girl child as owner/allottee, with the parent-
guardian as user.
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THANK YOU
Campaign against Sex Selective Abortions
DOWN WITH DISCRIMINATION
SAY NO to FEMALE EXTERMINATION
Eliminate Inequality, not Women.
Destroy Dowry, not Daughters.
Daughters are not for slaughter.
Say NO to Sex Determination
Say YES to Gender Justice