Female Foeticide: Core of Gender Inequality

Abstract

India has always possessed the hateful legacy of killing female child. Now, it is given a sophisticated aura of education by the perverse use of technology. The advancement in medical science has been widely and grossly misused rather abused in the Indian orthodox, conservative society. The popularity of female deselection in India could be attributed to various reasons. Our Indian society is patriarchal in nature with inborn desire for the male child. This desire along with the many prevailing superstitions, leads to indiscriminate abortion of female foetuses. There is a belief by certain people that female children are inherently less worthy because they leave home and family when they marry. The girl is considered as a liability on account of dowry. At present there are three laws aiming to prevent the evil practice of female foeticide. These are Indian Penal Code, 1860, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (prohibition of sex selection) Act, 1994. We have laws but we are not implementing them strictly. No effort for a good cause ever goes in vain. So let us stand against the evil of female foeticide to save this endangered species.