Detailed project report
Female foeticide is the act of aborting a foetus
because it is female. This is a major social problem in India and has cultural
connections with the dowry system that is ingrained in Indian culture, despite
the fact that it has been prohibited by law since 1961. In India a strong
preference for sons over daughters exists, unlike in Western cultures. People realize
smaller family sizes with relatively greater number of sons through the use of
medical technologies. Pregnancies are planned by resorting to 'differential
contraception' — contraception is used based on the number of surviving sons
irrespective of family size. Following conception, foetal sex is determined by
prenatal diagnostic techniques after which female foetuses are aborted.
Foetal sex determination and sex-selective abortion by medical
professionals has grown into a
1,000 crore industry (US$244 million). Social discrimination
against women and a preference for sons have been promoted. Since 1991, 80% of
districts in India have recorded an increasingly masculine sex ratio with the
state of Punjab having the most masculine sex ratio. According to the decennial
Indian census, the sex ratio in the 0-6 age group in India went from 104.0
males per 100 females in 1981, to 105.8 in 1991, to 107.8 in 2001, to 109.4 in
2011. The ratio is significantly higher in certain states such as Punjab and Haryana
(126.1 and 122.0, as of 2001)
Magnitude of
problem
It is estimated that more than 10 million female foetuses
have been illegally aborted in India. Researchers for the Lancet journal
based in Canada and India stated that 500,000 girls were being lost annually
through sex-selective abortions.
Pre-natal sex-determination was banned in India in 1994,
under the Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of
Sex Selection) Act. The act aims to prevent sex-selective abortion, which,
according to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, "has its
roots in India’s long history of strong patriarchal influence in all spheres of
life.
It is most prominent in Gujarat and the North Indian states,
which according to census data have an alarmingly low ratio of female children.
Certain castes regularly practiced female infanticide and later female
foeticide. The castes with a much lower proportion of female children to male
children included lewa patidars and the rajputs in Gujarat; jats, rajputs,
khutris and royal brahmins in undivided Punjab, rajputs and gujars in the Uttar
Pradesh.
Origin
This process began in the early 1990s when ultrasound
techniques gained widespread use in India. There was a tendency for families to
continuously produce children until a male child was born. This was primarily due
to the large sexist culture that exists in India against women. This is
reflected by literacy rates among women as well as economic participation,
which are both particularly low in states where female foeticide is prominent
and an unequal population ratio exists alongside. The government initially
supported the practice to control population growth.[7] The Preconception and Prenatal
Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act was passed in 1994, making sex-selective
abortion illegal. It was then modified in 2003 holding medical professionals
legally responsible. However, the PCPNDT Act has been poorly enforced by
authorities
Social
effects
Female foeticide has led to an increase in human trafficking.
In 2011, 15,000 Indian women were bought and sold as brides in areas where foeticide
has led to a lack of women.
What is female feticide?
Female
feticide is the selective abortion/elimination of the girl child in the womb
itself, done deliberately by the mother, after the detection of the child’s
gender through medical means. This is usually done under familial pressure from
the husband or the in-laws or even the woman’s parents. Unplanned pregnancy is
generally the reason behind abortion. However, female feticide is a far more
heinous sin than the age old practice of killing an unwanted child, even before
it’s born.
Like many
societies around the world, India too is patriarchal in nature. A set hierarchical system prevails in
all tiers of the social order. The fanatic obsession with the male sex, though,
is one of a kind. Right from the ancient scriptures, one finds instances where
men are glowingly praised as the key to continue the family lineage. A girl is
forced to undergo multiple pregnancies and (or) abortions, until she fulfills
her lifelong goal of being a breeding machine that produces male offspring as
per the needs of the family.
Sadly, a
majority of female feticide cases involve an enthusiastic participation of
women, both old and young.
To add
fuel to the fire, unethical sex determination and selective abortion of female
infants has become a booming US $224 million industry- a dangerous incentive
for this transgression to prosper further in the near future.
Why female feticide?
Every
unethical act, like this one, has some age-old lame reasoning behind it, which
is used as genuine justification by its staunch supporters. The root cause for
female feticide lies within the cultural norms as well as the socio-economic
policies of the country where this practice prevails. The most infected (I use
the verb, for it precisely depicts the malady that has affected our world) are
the South Asian countries like China, India, Vietnam, Korea etc. from where
this social evil has mushroomed today to the western nations like the USA and
Canada. This is the end result of immigration that has brought along female
feticide across the pond. What is the rationale, one may wonder. Surprisingly,
the reasons aren’t quite as diverse for these nations as one may perceive.
Ø Preference for the male child:
Elimination/removal of girls from the family tree even before they are born
clearly indicates the vehement desire for a boy child. In the countries where
female feticide has become unbridled, the core factor is the need to continue
the family line through the male born into it. Sons are seen as the main source
of income. Even though women today can easily rub shoulders with men, almost in
every field they set their mind to, the common misconception still remains that
it is the male who will help run the house, and look after his parents. Once
married, women are like cargo, ready to be shipped off to another household,
while parents breathe a sigh of relief for a job well done in getting their
‘daughter’ settled.
In India,
the age old custom of dowry system puts a damper on the parents’ spirits who
are ‘blessed’ with a girl child. Right then and there, begin the calculations
associated with marriage expenses, which may happen after a couple of decades,
following the child’s first breath. A lump sum paid to the daughter in twenty
years when the currency value may depreciate and inflation may skyrocket is
seen as a tragedy waiting to happen. It would be so much better to get rid of
them with just a fraction of the amount.
Ø Deteriorated Status of Women: I’m
not a rabid feminist who would shout herself hoarse about the domination of men
in any society. Sure, males are the stronger sex when it comes to the pecking
order in a country, but that does not entail a curbing of rights for women.
Rather than whining about the denied opportunities, women should stand up and
try to grasp the chances they want for themselves.
However,
this Utopian scenario is not quite easily achieved in practice. Centuries of
repression has made inferiority second nature to most women. They willingly
embrace the role of the meek, submissive, docile wife who works relentlessly to
cater to the whims of her husband. The worst enemy of a woman is the woman
herself. Female feticide happens with the explicit consent of the mother. While
most mothers-to be agree to this misdeed out of a sense of duty to the family,
there are many who take the initiative themselves.
Ø Foul Medical Ethics: The
opening conversation to this hub satisfactorily covers this point. With the
legalization of abortion in India, illegal sex determination and termination of
pregnancies has become an everyday reality. The professionals in the medical
field are only too glad to help parents realize their dream of a healthy baby
boy. Female feticide is openly discussed amongst many in the healing fraternity
and even pin boards outside certain clinics read, ‘Pay Rs.500 today to save the expense of Rs.
500 000 in the future’. The initial meager sum is the cost of a
pregnancy termination, while the bigger amount specified in comparison, is the
expense that the family will be burdened with in the form of dowry for the
girl.
Ø Industrial Growth:
Industrialization of the health sector has further strengthened the selective
sex abortion quarter. With the advent of CVS, amniocentesis and Ultrasound,
sex determination of the fetus has become much easier than it was earlier. This
goes on to show how the manufacturers of high-tech equipments and gadgets, used
to run these tests, benefit from the woes of future parents and their unborn
child. Many hospitals are known to sign long term contracts with the firms
involved in the production of these types of medical machinery. Often, a
healthy percentage of the profit is shared with the hospital and both parties
enjoy the fruits of rewarding a death sentence.
As opposed
to CVS and amniocentesis, the ultrasound technology is cheaper and within easy
reach of the lower economically backward strata of society. It is also easily
accessible in a hospital/clinic nearby with mediocre credentials.
Unfortunately,
the probability of accuracy of the ultrasound is not always 100 per cent until
the fetus is twenty weeks old. Consequently, the child aborted by those
enthusiastic parents may just be the little prince they were hoping for.
The rift in numbers
Source: Reuters Blog
Long Term Consequences
As
Newton’s Third Law of Motion states, ‘For every action, there is an equal and
opposite reaction’, the after effects of this genocide are fatal and
far-reaching. Blinded by the need for an assertive gender to rule the house
after the parents’ demise, the majority are often ignorant of the disaster they
unwittingly invite by indulging in female feticide.
Ø Skewed Sex Ratio: In India,the number of
girls per 1000 boys is declining with each passing decade. From 962 and 945
girls for every 1000 boys in the years 1981 and 1991 respectively, the sex
ratio had plummeted to an all time low of 927 girls for 1000 boys in 2001. If
that statistic is a matter of concern, the current figures are toeing the
danger line with only 914 girls for 1000 boys in 2011. In the case of China,
the sex ratio is an alarming 118 boys for 100 girls; that means 848 girls for
1000 boys. This is just an example of two nations trapped in the vicious
circle. There are many others struggling with a skewed sex ratio.
Is an
imbalance in the number of females a truly worrying matter?
Yes,
indeed. Sex ratio is merely a microscopic view of the number of both genders.
However, when calculated for the entire population, this clearly indicates the
widespread disparity. This disparity may prove critical for the country’s
development in political, economic and emotional spheres.
Ø Female/Women Trafficking:
The steep decline in the number of girls makes them scarce for the teaming
number of males eligible for marriage. As a solution to this issue, illegal
trafficking of women has become commonplace in many regions. This is a graver
matter than the ideology of mail order brides. Women, often young girls who’ve
just crossed the threshold of puberty, are compelled to marry for a price fixed
by the groom-to be. They are usually bought in from neighboring areas, where
the number of girls might not be as miniscule as the host region. Child
marriages become a rage and child pregnancies, a devastating consequence. The
moment when a land participates in the trade off of its women population, it is
a sure path laid ahead with pitfalls.
Ø Increase in Rape and Assault: Once
women become an endangered species, it is only a matter of time before the
instances of rape, assault and violence become widespread. In the backdrop of
fewer available females, the surviving ones will be faced with the reality of
handling a society driven by a testosterone high. The legal system may offer
protection, but as is the situation today, many cases might not even surface
for fear of isolation and humiliation on the girl’s part.
Ø Population Decline: With
no mothers or wombs to bear any child (male or female), there would be fewer
births, leading to a decline in the country’s population. Though a control in
the demographic statistics is currently the goal of many nations like China and
India, a total wipeout of one sex is not the way to achieve this target.
Science would then have to look up solutions to do away with the swarming
number of men, should such a worst case scenario happen.
Son Preference
Source: Wikipedia
World Sex Ratio
Source: Wikipedia
Prevention and Cure
Do the
facts enlisted above truly spell disaster for the future of women? Not really.
The issues of female infanticide, female feticide and selective sex abortion
have gained global attention. Many international and national law making bodies
have come forward to stop this cruel practice. Of the numerous steps taken to
curb the matter, the prominent ones are:
·
Cancellation/permanent termination of the doctor’s
license who partakes in fulfilling a client’s demand to do away with her girl
child.
·
Heavy penalty imposed on companies like GE, which
specialize in marketing medical equipments used for illegal sex determination
and abortion in unlicensed clinics and hospitals.
·
High fines and judicial action against ‘parents’
who knowingly try to kill their unborn baby.
·
Widespread campaigns and seminars for young adults
and potential parents to enlighten them about the ill effects of female
feticide. Ignorance is one of the major causes for the increase in the
selective sex abortion cases. Spreading awareness can go a long way in saving
our future sisters, mothers, girlfriends and wives.
A cohesive
and concerted effort by everyone can prove to be the requisite baby step in the
right direction. We may not support the notion of women rising above men, or
them becoming the dominant sex, or conquering the world. However, the basic
humane consideration to let an innocent child live and see the world she was
conceived to grow in is not too much to ask. Let’s not be murderers of our own
flesh and blood.
PUNJAB TOPS LIST OF FEMALE
FOETICIDE CASES
According to figures released
by the National Crime Records Bureau, in Punjab, 81 cases were registered for
female foeticide
Punjab tops the list in number
of female foeticide cases reported over the last three years.
The country as a whole
reported 294 cases during the same period.
According to figures released
by the National Crime Records Bureau, in Punjab, 81 cases were registered for
female foeticide
However, despite the large
number of cases registered, the rate of conviction for the crime is very low.
In Punjab, of the total 81 cases reported, only in two cases conviction has
been achieved, that too only in 2008.
PROJECT AREA
VOICE OF WOMEN WELFARE TRUST had taken initiative to resolve this
problem through this Social cause for female foeticide in Ludhiana
district.
As per provisional reports of Census India, population of in 2011 is 1,613,878; of which male and female are 874,773 and 739,105
respectively. Although Ludhiana city has population of 1,613,878; its urban /
metropolitan population is 0 of which 0 are males and 0 are females.
To meet out the objectives following
items of activities will be under taken to Create awareness generation among
working women and to educated them about the various schemes for right of
working women and various schemes for women.
i.
Organization
of one day workshop at village level.
ii.
Seminar
for working women regarding their rights
iii.
Organization
of exhibition.
iv.
Booklets
photographs will be distributed among women workers.
v.
Posters.
vi.
Pamphlets.
REQUIRED STAFF OF PROJECT
|
Sr. No
|
Staff
|
No. of Post
|
|
1.
|
Project co-ordinator
|
1
|
|
2
|
Medical Doctor (part time)
|
1
|
|
3
|
Counselor –(Full time)
|
1
|
|
4
|
Field investigator
|
1
|
|
5
|
Trained Nurse (Full time)
|
1
|
|
6
|
Clerk (Typing, Accounting and Store Keeper)
|
1
|
|
7
|
Peon
|
1
|
BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANISATION
VOICE OF WOMEN WELFARE TRUST was a registered, voluntary initiative of a group of social
concerned activists and academics with a vision of achieving total liberation
and comprehensive empowerment of women by adopting multigrain strategies.
VOICE OF WOMEN WELFARE TRUST is committed to develop human potential and the community in the areas of
social, economic cultural and self-governance, addressing the livelihood issues
and the rights of people, the target community women, children, disabled
persons and the other unorganized.
VOICE OF WOMEN WELFARE TRUST is working in ludhiana district in 20
villages. For the empowerment of
-community with special focuses on women and children.
VOICE OF WOMEN WELFARE TRUST visualizes a society that ensures
human rights for all without discriminative and inequality, especially for
adhivasi women on the basis of right approaches and to organize them to
internalize their status and motivate them to uphold their rights.
Vision
“To empower the rural and the needy
in socio-economic, cultural and political spheres of human life”
Mission
Our challenge today is to initiate a vibrant, effective
campaign against female feticide. If we are all committed then only can we
reach out to the hearts and minds of our people
“To revive villagers’ identity to pass on their traditional
wisdom, values, knowledge, traditional medicines and culture to promote
environmental sustainability and right over natural resources and forest
regeneration, gender to protection and promotion of women’s rights and
equality”
Present Activity of NGO’s
Ø Self-Help
Groups (SHGs)
Ø Health
Camps
Ø H.I.V
Awareness seminars & camp
Ø Acupuncture
& drug deaddiction camp
Ø Save
girl child programmes, rallies, and workshop
Ø Livelihoods
development of scheduled tribes through indigenous knowledge
Ø Literacy
and capacity building programmers and training camps
Ø Forest
conservation and regeneration and local resources protection
Ø Village
reconstruction and assets building for the poor and marginalized
Ø BPL
development with indigenous culture and wisdom
Ø Gender
equity and gender sensitization programmers for women and men
Ø Networking
and policy intervention with organization and movements
Ø Organizational
development process including staff development.
OBJECTIVE:-
1) To create awareness generation among women regarding women right, protection given
to them by constitution, and by rules and regulations.
2) To
educate the women from urban and rural areas regarding their rights and
privileges so that they can courage to fight against atrocities on them.
3) Women
will be educated for their self reliance so that they cannot be deprived from rights.
4) Empowering
women with information and knowledge of various acts to fight for atrocities on
them.
5) Women
will be educated to safeguard the interest and rights of women, gaining for
them equality in status and elimination of any discrimination against them.
6) To
educate the working women regarding various schemes formulated for their
benefits by govt. of India, Dept. of women and child welfare Department, New
Delhi.
7) Various
schemes formulated by rural development department Govt. of India for the
women.
8) Various
schemes for working women formulated by Govt. of India to be implemented
through Non-Governmental organization.
9) To
create awareness among working women regarding various schemes.
10) To
create awareness among working women regarding various schemes implemented by
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, Rashtriya Mahila
Ayog and also state Mahila Ayog and its functioning.
