Female Foeticide – Still Rampant!!!

Since ages now, a “boy” child has been prefered over a “girl” child in the vast population of India. The obsession for male child is not just prominent in the worker class of India, but also in the educated class, business class, affluent class, not-so-affluent class… in fact, amongst all the “classes” of India!

The sad part of the story is that this is unfortunately ingrained in the minds of Indians. So even after living abroad, in the plush society of countries like UK, Indian women are sent back home to India, to detect the sex of their unborn child and to terminate it, if the child is a “girl”.

Some facts here:

• Female infanticide occurs in 80% of Indian states
• Worst-affected states include wealthiest areas
• 927 girls born for every 1,000 boys
• Infant mortality rate: 60/1,000

To see how difficult it is to find a doctor willing to carry out the service, the BBC sent a British couple to one of Delhi’s top gynaecologists, Dr Mangala Telang – a doctor recommended by the British High Commission.

Dr Telang, an IVF treatment specialist, has practised in some of Delhi’s top hospitals and has actually campaigned against female foeticide calling it an “evil” crime.

The BBC had heard that her clinic would offer ultrasound scans to determine the sex of a baby – even though a sign in the waiting room clearly said it was illegal.

Secret filming shows that within minutes Dr Telang agreed to perform the scan. She warns the couple not to tell anyone about what they were doing as it is illegal.

The couple also ask whether, if the unborn child is a girl and they decide to abort the baby, she could recommend someone to carry out a termination.

Dr Telang says: “Yes, I can recommend someone.”

In the ultrasound room, another doctor tells the couple the “good” news that it is a boy. Both doctors had broken several laws.

When the BBC told the doctors about the evidence, they denied doing anything wrong.

Dr Telang said she was not in the room when the scan was carried out. But she is clearly seen in the room congratulating the couple.

Such doctors should be severely punished for putting up a mask. Hope, people residing in Mother India, wake up to realise the importance of women in their lives!!!

[Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7123753.stm]

Oh by the way, Happy International Women’s day (belated)