The decline in the sex ratio in the 0-6 age group (editorial “Missing daughters,” May 28) points to the social and moral degeneration of our society. It is shocking to learn that the educated and affluent resort to sex-selective abortions in larger numbers.
The result of the skewed sex ratio is bound to lead to an increase in crime against women in the years to come.
A healthy male-female ratio is a social need. A stronger law to deal with those resorting to sex-selective abortions needs to be enacted. Doctors and clinics disclosing the sex of the child through medical technology should be dealt with strictly.
Manzar Imam,New Delhi
In most States, the girl child is unwanted. Reports of girl children found in dustbins or by the roadside are common. But one wonders why, even after the alarming decline in child sex ratio, no political party has initiated any programme to save the girl child. Is it because children are not vote-banks? The issue gets attention only at the time of census or when reports appear in magazines such as The Lancet .
Killing a girl child in the womb is no less than terrorism. The only difference is that a terror attack is perpetrated by outsiders whereas female foeticide is committed by the child's own parents.
Annapoorna Nakkina,Secunderabad
The need to implement the PNDT Act effectively to address the social menace of female foeticide cannot be underemphasised. However, should not the root causes which drive people to sex-selective abortions be addressed on a priority basis?
Are not the well-to-do and the super rich who perform expensive weddings, forcing the poorer sections to emulate them, responsible in a major way for this social crime? How can the not-so well-to-do aspire to have daughters when they shudder to think of their plight? All marriage functions should be banned. Only solemn registration should be allowed.
Kasim Sait,Chennai
The issue here is not just about mere numbers but human values. We all know that one of the root causes for the evil practice of female foeticide is the dowry system.
Although there are laws curbing sex-selective abortion, their implementation leaves a lot to be desired. Visionary leadership, stringent implementation of laws and a united effort to discourage dowry are the need of the hour.
M. Somasekhar Prasad,Badvel
Sex-selective abortion is an immoral act, besides being a crime against humanity. Women are equally competitive in all spheres. But all talk of woman empowerment will be rendered hollow if girls are killed even before entering the world. Let all social, religious and political organisations join hands to create a wider awareness on the issue. Baba Nanak said: so kyon manda aakhiye jit jamme rajan (why call women inferior who give birth to kings)?
Gurmit Singh Saini,Mohali
