Female Foeticide

THEME PAPER

Female Foeticide

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4
INTRODUCTION 4
Definition 4
Sex Ratio 5
Purpose 7
Primary Data 8
Secondary Data 8
Process 8
Reproduction rights: - 9
Economic stability: 9
Social Status: 9
Challenges 9
The Context 9
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 10
1) Government schemes 10
a) Ladli - 10
b) Kanyadaan: 11
c) Incentives for Panchayat 11
Inference 12
2) Present and past sex ratios 12
3) Perception of the Panch 14
1) Inflation - 14
2) Large number of illegal sex determination centre 14
3) Social Pressures - 15
4) Family Honour: - 15
5) Safety and Security for Women 15
6) Legislation 16
7) General Attitude towards Women: 16
Suggestions: 16
CONCLUSION 17
REFERENCES: 17
ANNEXURES: 19
1) Map and Sex Ratio (India and Haryana) 19
2) Questionnaire 20

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I went to Mustafabad for my fieldwork, which is a village in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana. This report covers the topic of female foeticide in its totality. Initially while going for the fieldwork, I had a different topic for research in my mind, but after touching ground there, I realised the importance and relevance of this topic with respect to mustafabad and also in a broader context, Haryana. Also, while having a discussion with my reporting officer (Mr Malhotra, Block development and panchayat officer), the urgency of the issue became clear .This paper includes my findings, reasons and the possible suggestions towards mitigating this social evil. Also, it contains the relevant questionnaire, discussions and focus group discussions, which I conducted (with the help of Sarpanch) during my stay in the village.
The findings in this paper go as far as the perception of people towards the issue as well as the effect of government and the societal interventions on the issue of female foeticide.
INTRODUCTION
Historically, in the absence of sex determination tests, infanticide was the only inhumane option for discarding the female child. This practice still continues today in the some parts of India where ultrasound test facilities are not available or the families cannot afford the test. With availability of ultrasound technology for sex determination, female foeticide has become widespread, especially in the prosperous states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat.
Definition: - Female foeticide is defined as the sex selective destruction of the foetus. It is one of the most inhuman deeds anyone can commit. In the recent years, we have seen our country progressing with a pace which has never been witnessed by our people, but with such evils still existing in the society, all the other accomplishments such as economic growth seems a bit futile. The act itself portrays the degradation of mankind and the society.
As India becomes a politically stable country and males do not get consumed to hateful acts by fellow humans (such as the incidence of various riots and genocides), the number of males has gone up. However, the practice of dowry remains stronger than ever. The families that commit female foeticide love their living daughters; however that passion is not extended to the female foetus. The progressive feminist movements tend to have mixed feeling towards this inhuman cruelty as they are in favour of women’s right for abortion. Their voices get blunted as they have to support both sides of the coin. As number of females drops, society gets destabilized. Similar destabilization, violence and lack of progress is observed in polygamous societies, where females are treated as properties and the source of all violence is to "acquire and control" females.
Also, there was another phase in the history which actually led to the present day status of sex ratio, especially in areas like Haryana and Punjab. The event was the partition of India in the year 1947, when apart from the economic losses people suffered; there was huge bloodshed and massacre. There was inhumanity witnessed on both sides. A myriad of girls were raped, killed and the inhuman tortures on pregnant women were not even inconceivable. This genocide actually inculcated the fear in the minds and heart of people regarding the safety and security of the girl child.
Sex Ratio:
In India, there is deep rooted prejudice and discrimination against girl child, especially in northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. As per census data, the male female ratio has always be skewed in favour of males compared to females since early 20th century in the states of Haryana Punjab compared to the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka.
According to the year 2001 census, India has 933 males per thousand males and among the various Haryana has the lowest sex ratio in our country i.e. around 861(Table 1). According to the recent data the sex ratio of Haryana has dropped to 850.
Table 1: Sex Ratio
(Females per 1000 males)
Sl. No. India / States / Union Territories 1991 2001 INDIA 927 933
1 Jammu and Kashmir 896 900
2 Himachal Pradesh 976 970
3 Punjab 882 874
4 Chandigarh 790 773
5 Uttaranchal 936 964
6 Haryana 865 861
7 Delhi 827 821
8 Rajasthan 910 922
9 Uttar Pradesh 876 898
10 Bihar 907 921
11 Sikkim 878 875
12 Arunachal Pradesh 859 901
13 Nagaland 886 909
14 Manipur 958 978
15 Mizoram 921 938
16 Tripura 945 950
17 Meghalaya 955 975
18 Assam 923 932
19 West Bengal 917 934
20 Jharkhand 922 941
21 Orissa 971 972
22 Chhatisgarh 985 990
23 Madhya Pradesh 912 920
24 Gujarat 934 921
25 Daman & Diu 969 709
26 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 952 811
27 Maharashtra 934 922
28 Andhra Pradesh 972 978
29 Karnataka 960 964
30 Goa 967 960
31 Lakshadweep 943 947
32 Kerala 1036 1058
33 Tamil Nadu 974 986
34 Pondicherry 979 1001
35 Andaman & Nicobar Islands* 818 846 Sl. No. India / States / Union Territories 1991 2001

Purpose – The study was undertaken to get an insight into the mindset of people regarding the issue of female foeticide and the dwindling number of females in the region. This will actually help us find out that in spite of all the government initiatives regarding the same, Haryana still has the second lowest sex ratio in the country. Through this, we will also be able to know whether the person here actually gives this issue the attention it deserves or it is just another banality in their mind.
METHODOLOGY
In addition to reviewing existing literature, conducting interviews with individuals, household surveys and focus group discussions with members, following sources of information were used:
Primary Data
Followings are the sources of primary data
Informal discussion: We tried to get as much information as possible from the villagers and the people related to different community based organisations. They provided both the qualitative as well as quantitative information related to study.
Semi-structured Interviews: These interviews were conducted with the aid of questionnaires prepared for the purpose.
Questionnaire: Things which were needed to be enquired were put in structured manner in a questionnaire (Annexure 2). The questionnaires were prepared for two levels of enquiry, one at the group level and the other at the individual level. This gave us an insight into the major issues both at the group and individual levels.
Focus group discussion: FGD helped in getting the data directly related to a particular activity or intervention. It also helped us in understanding the level of cohesiveness and unity of purpose in the group.
Secondary Data
For the secondary data, the following were used:
• Relevant literature available in the library
• Different records available with the host organisation, Panchayati raj directorate, Haryana.
• Data available for Family planning association of India (FPAI), an Non-government organisation working for women.
Process
Initially, I decided to go a bit slow and started with informal chats with the folks around the village. As it is a very contentious issue, which makes lot of people feel uncomfortable and even offended, I decided to pursue my research after getting to know the people around the village. This approach actually helped me in establishing a rapport with the residents of my village.
Thereafter, I started with getting a certain insight into the general perception of people regarding role of women in deciding the well being of herself and her child
Reproduction rights: - Even in the 21st century, it is very heartbreaking to see the power a male or husband exercises on the time and manner of conception of a child. Women have almost no say on the same and are just being treated as a mere source of producing a child and giving a legal heir to the family. With such practices, health of women is deteriorating, both mentally and physically.
Economic stability: As many women stay in the premises of their household, there seems to be inherent dependence on the males and thus it increases the vulnerability and decreases the sense of decision making and involvement in such important decisions.
Social Status: This parameter governs the mental state and the overall comfort level a person enjoys within the society. For most women, enjoying the same is an unlikely dream and after a certain amount of time, they actually give up on acquiring even a semblance of the same.
Challenges:
Female foeticide is a very sensitive topic, many a time’s people were not willing to disclose any information regarding the same. People sometimes considered my research as encroachment on their personal beliefs. There were people who considered this as a non issue and were totally indifferent about the same. Also, my inexperience in conducting a research was a major challenge in front of me.
The Context
Due to India’s patriarchal society – men are seen as the role models and are the ones to look after the family in their old age. Giving birth to a girl child is seen by many as “watering the neighbour’s plants” whereby a house full of boys is said to “wield stick that can hold its head high.” The favouring of the boy child is inherent in Indian society and embedded in its culture. As with female genital mutilation which started out as a traditional practice in a few African states – female foeticide and son preference has spread in order to allegedly protect the female child against the inevitable. As well as the risk of being subject to female foeticide – the girl child if allowed to be born is subject to numerous prejudices in order to favour the growth and development of the boy child. The rate of infant mortality amongst the girl child is much higher than the boy child. And if she is lucky enough to survive past her first year – the girl child is expected to forfeit her food, attention to health and or education in favour of the boy child.
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
This section focuses on the findings of the study in relation to the main research objective i.e. the reasons behind the practice of female foeticide or the declining sex ratio in Mustafabad, a village in the northern part of the state of Haryana. For the same, the following scenarios were studied and analysed:
1) Government schemes: With the issue of declining sex ratio becoming a hugely contentious issue, the state government took several initiatives to address the underlying reasons behind the same. Some of those schemes are as followed:
a) Ladli - Under this scheme Rs. 5000/- per family per year will be given to the parents on the birth of their 2nd daughter born on or after 20th Aug 2005 for 5 years or till the scheme is extended. Also, the money is to be invested in Kisan Vikas Patras in the name of 2nd girl child through mother. In case, mother is not alive then the money would be deposited in the name of 2nd girl through father. If both the parents are not alive then this money will be deposited in a name of 2nd girl child through guardian. The Kisan Vikas Patras would be deposited in Treasury/ Sub-Treasury, as valuables, for a period of 8 years and 7 months by the Programme Officer of concerned District and after 8 years and 7 months the money would be reinvested in Kisan Vikas Patras and deposited again in the treasury till the 2nd girl child attains 18 years of age.

b) Balika Samridhi Yojna - Under recast Balika Samridhi Yojna, redesigned in November,1999, the following benefits are given to the girl child born in below poverty line families and the benefit is restricted up to two girl children in a household irrespective of the total number of children:- a) Post birth grant @ Rs.500/- b) Annual scholarship for successfully completed year of schooling. Class I-III IV V VI-VII VIII IX-X Rs.300/- for each class Rs.500/- Rs.600/- Rs.700/- for each class Rs.800/- Rs.1000/- for each class. The amounts for both components are to be deposited in maximum interest bearing joint accounts like National Saving Certificates or Public Provident Funds in the name of the girl child and the designated officer. However, a portion of the post birth grant of Rs.500 or the amount of annual scholarship can be applied towards paying the premium on the insurance policy in the name of the girl child under the Bhagayashree Balika Kalyan Bima Yojna. The amounts of annual scholarship may be permitted to be utilized towards purchase of books or uniform for the girl child. The remaining amounts shall be deposited in the account. Benefits of the amounts of annual scholarships will be withdrawn when the girl gets married before attaining the age of 18 years and in the eventuality of the death of the girl child before 18 years of age, the accumulate amount in her account would be withdrawn.

b) Kanyadaan: This is a flagship programme launched by the state government to put a curb on the practice of female foeticide. Under this scheme, the government gives money to the parents to facilitate the marriage of their girls .The amount under this scheme has been increased to Rs 31000 and is open for further recommendations.
c) Incentives for Panchayat: The state government has initiated a number of measures to check female foeticide like raiding ultrasound centres illegally conducting sex determination tests and rewarding village Panchayats which show an improvement in sex ratio.
State level awards 1st Prize : Increased from Rs. 2.00 lacs to Rs.3.00 lacs and a shield
2nd Prize : Increased from Rs. 1.00 lacs to Rs.2.00 lacs and a shield
3rd Prize : Increased from Rs. 0.50 lacs to Rs.1.00 lac and a shield District level awards 1st Prize : Increased from Rs. 25,000/- to Rs.50, 000/- and a certificate 2nd Prize : Increased from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs.25, 000/- and a certificate Block level awards 1st Prize : Increased from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs.25, 000/- and a certificate
Even after the availability of various schemes by the government of Haryana, there has not been much improvement when it comes to the sex ratio of the village as well as the state This might be attributed to the fact that people here are relatively well off and the financial incentives does not appeal to them in way they will in some other states.

2) Present and past sex ratios: The situation in Haryana became a drastic one in the year 2001, when the sex ratio went down to around 860.Then and there several schemes were adopted to mitigate this problem and as a result, by the year 2007 it went beyond 880.Things were looking relatively better, but when the results for the year 2008 came out, the whole thing repeated again like a déjà vu and the sex ratio has been decreasing ever since.
Again with the new data coming up (May 2010) the state average as well as the village average as decreased and it has fallen much below the number of 850. In some areas in Haryana such as rewari, where the sex ratio was 765 in 2001,has fallen down to around 750(given by the District development and panchayat office) , which is miserable to say the least.

There has been a trend of repeatedly low sex ratio in the village as well as the district and the state. This only shows that the new generation as well is not that willing to open up their mind and handle the problem head on. The probable reason behind this can be the pressure of parents, society or the overall thinking of a whole generation, when it comes to the issue of female child. Now, the onus is on the new generation to decide whether they want to live in a place where it is difficult to find companions, where almost half of the population does not have a say or they want to be the harbinger of change and bring about a new thought process to change the current scenario.
3) Perception of the Panch:
I conducted a focussed group discussion as well as a questionnaire survey among the Panch. There were 20 members with 8 females among the respondents. Following are the consolidated reasons and the possible suggestions that have emerged from the meeting:
1) Inflation - With the increasing prices of all the manufactured, processed and food articles, people think that having a girl child will increase the financial burden on a family especially the poor ones. Inevitably, girls are seen as an unwelcome drain on family finances. In rural Haryana, farmers and daily wage workers take loans and make their wives undergo scanning and selective abortions to ensure they bear only sons. The calculation is clear: better to pay a little now than to pay a huge sum later on. Therefore, they believe that instead of having a girl child which will basically be a financial burden to them for a large portion of their life, they prefer killing them in the womb itself.

2) Large number of illegal sex determination centre - The advent of new technology (ultrasound) in the late 80’s and 90’s for sex determination and safe techniques of sex selective abortions further sent the sex ratio spiralling down. As per census 2001, the 0 to 6 years sex ratio of Haryana touched in all time low of 819 females per 1000 males. The Government of India, in order to check the female foeticide brought in the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulations and Prevention of Misuse Act 1994) which was brought in to operation from 1st January, 1996. The PNDT Act and rules were amended and came into force w.e.f 14th February, 2003.
While the sex determination is a declared cognisable offense, there are number of such illegal centres present throughout the length of the state. In the village Mustafabad too, there are number of such centres (of course, they are not visible to us). These centres provide an easy way out for the parents who are looking to get rid of the foetus, in case of a girl child.
3) Social Pressures - Even in this era, when the world thinks of us as a progressive nation, with one of the fastest growing economy in the world, having a son is still a socially preferable norm. People here believe that having a girl child will invite social as well as domestic harassment. The same includes: domestic violence, ill-treatment by husbands and in-laws, ill treatment of women after they give birth to a girl etc. There has been a number of cases related to this. One instance was even put forward by one of the panchayat members where a ‘Bahu’ was constantly harassed by her in-laws for bearing two girl children.
4) Family Honour: - This is one of the most important reasons behind the lower sex ratio in this region. As we know that in a village there is little anonymity so a girl’s involvement in any undesirable activity invites social boycott. All this leads to a disturbance in person’s social space. It can have the following consequences -:
• It becomes difficult for other children in the family to get married. The situation becomes much worse for girls, especially in the poor families.

• It becomes difficult to get any sort of support from the community be it social, moral or economic (hukka paani band ho Jana). Also, the family is subjected to humiliation and indecent comments from the community. Also, as people believe that a wrong deed by a girl is a greater sin than a boy doing the same thing or of similar magnitude; it becomes extremely embarrassing for a family during such cases.

5) Safety and Security for Women: - As women are still considered as physically weaker sex, many families believe that ensuring their safety and security is a herculean task .In the advent of any untoward incident, it becomes a social stigma both for the family as well as the victim. Also with increase in the cases of violence against women, the overall threat to women has increased, which has lead to inculcation of absolute fear among the parents. The violence against women manifests itself in a number of ways such as: rape, sexual abuse, dowry death, abetment of suicide, etc.
6) Legislation – As during recent times there have been a lot of incidents of runaway couples i.e. a young boy and a young girl of different communities leaving their homes in order to spend their lives together, against the wishes of their parents. Also, due to this there has been a rise in honour killings, which has forced the government to provide protection to these couples. This, according to same parents is the main reason why people do not want girl child, as they are afraid that an act like this will bring bad name to the family and may even lead to violence and jaat isolation.
7) General Attitude towards Women: As the women there are considered somewhat inferior to man, this feeling gets accentuated when it comes to the womb as well. To bear a girl child is considered as a liability and the same condescending attitude gets attached to the girl foetus. People are not particularly in favour of giving equal freedom to boys and girls. They are also not in favour of giving an equal share of ancestral property.
Suggestions:
1) Males should stand up to their parents when they bicker about unwanted girl child. As the whole concept of female foeticide is based upon male being the protector as well as the power to shield family honour, it should be imperative for the husbands to protect the respect and dignity of his wife.
2) Refuse marriage of women into households or be very careful of families that have only male children. In the 21st century, this notion might be written off as a banality, but with increase in cases of harassment to women in such households, it has become one of the most influential factors regarding the decision of not having a girl child.
3) Provide extra incentives for families that have more than one girl child. Apart from the financial incentives, certain social incentives, such as security for the parents and relatives of the girl, in case of any untoward incident are also required to pacify the fears in the mind of the people.
4) Improving the laws regarding the issues like run away couples. With so many parents interpreting the state government initiative to provide support and security to the runaway couples as a direct attack on their honour and respect, a new legislation is the need of the hour which can address the issues of both the couple as well as their parents.
5) Closure of pre-natal sex determination centres and strict punishments against the violators. The easy availability of diagnostic techniques in Haryana’s remote villages should be stopped and greater involvement of the local community as well as the block and district administration is required.
6) Reproduction rights for the women- Reproductive Rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health.A woman has the right to know the contents of her own body, and to make a choice about whether to continue her pregnancy or not. These rights should be defended against laws trying to stop prenatal sex selection as the restrictions on women’s reproductive freedom harm the interests of women.
CONCLUSION
Even with the Supreme Court banning the pre-natal sex-determination, there are myriad of such centres available in and around the village. People are aware of the issue, but are more or less indifferent as the common and the favoured belief is that it is the male child which carries the name of a family forward and the honour of the family wrest within the male domain. There is a need of mass awakening, if anything substantial is to happen regarding curbing this issue. People need to leave their preference of male child in order to mitigate this problem, but while doing so there is another problem of a mental block regarding the female child as a burden to the family as well as the society. This can be a bigger problem to handle, but if anything substantial has to be done, it has start from within the people and from nowhere else. No amount of financial assistance or the education through non-Government organisation will be able to change the attitude of people, unless it comes from within their conscience.
REFERENCES:
1) Family planning association of India (Maps for sex ratios, working of government schemes and the suggestions)
2) Wikipedia
3)”Samvad”-A monthly magazine issued by the state government
4) Paper on ‘the Daughter Deficit’- Exploring Declining Sex Ratios in India.
5) Research paper on ‘Female Foeticide’ by Madhu Gurung.

ANNEXURES:
1) Map and Sex Ratio (India and Haryana)

2) Questionnaire

1) How many members are there in your family?
• Males
• Females
2) How many children are there in the age group of 0-6 years?
• Boy
• Girl
3) How many members of your family are educated (at least till 5th standard)?
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• More than four
4) How many aunts and uncles do you have? Aunts Uncle
None
Only one
Only two
Only Three
More than three

5) What are the primary sources of your income?
• Agricultural activities.
• Agricultural allied activities.
• Own business.
• Service.
• Any other(pension)
6) Are you aware of the issues like female foeticide?
• Yes
• No
7) What was your and your wife’s age when you got married?
• Male - Years
• Female- Years
8) Is dowry a very common practice around mustafabad and did you took or gave dowry during any marriage in your family?
• Yes
• No
9) Do you believe only male child can bring honour to the family or only a male child can carry the family name ahead?
• Yes
• No

10) Do you consider having a female child is a burden for life?
• Yes
• No
11) Are you aware of the various schemes and policies for the development of the female child and females in the family? If yes, have you availed any facilities?
• Yes
• No
12) Do you think that the protection given to the Run Away couples by the government is one of the causes why female foeticide is increasing as it tarnishes the family honour?
• Yes
• No
13) Do you think the sex determination of the foetus in mother’s womb is justified?
• Yes
• No