The Indian Government will launch a novel "cradle scheme" – a series of orphanages – in a bid to reduce the number of sex–selection abortions and female infanticides that have ravaged the population of girls in the Asian nation.
India is facing a serious problem regarding the male–female gender ratio. In a nation where cultural preferences favour boys, some Indian states such as Punjab and Haryana face male–female ratios as low as 798 girls born for every 1,000 boys leading to a host of other social problems.
According to a UNICEF report released in December last year, 10 million girls have been killed by their parents in India in the past 20 years, either before they were born or immediately after, persuading the government to call it as a 'national crisis.'
According to the new scheme, instead of abandoning or aborting the baby girl, parents are encouraged to hand over the baby to the state instead which would look after her.
For the same–said purpose, empty cradles or crèche would be placed outside every government district headquarters so that unwanted baby girls could be placed there by their parents without compromising on their identity.
The plan would be implemented soon by the Ministry for Women and Child Development in collaboration with local governments, Renuka Chowdhury, Minister for Women and Child Development, said.
"It's shocking figures and we are in a national crisis if you ask me," Renuka Chowdhury said, noting that girls are seen as liabilities by many Indians, especially because of the banned but rampant practice of dowry, where the bride's parents pay cash and goods to the groom's family.
Men are also seen as breadwinners while social prejudices deny women opportunities for education and jobs.
In some states, the minister said, newborn girls have been killed by pouring sand or tobacco juice into their nostrils.
"The minute the child is born and she opens her mouth to cry, they put sand into her mouth and her nostrils so she chokes and dies," Chowdhury said, referring to several cases in Rajasthan.
"They bury infants into pots alive and bury the pots. They put tobacco into her mouth. They hang them upside down like a bunch of flowers to dry," she added.
"We have more passion for tigers of this country. We have people fighting for stray dogs on the road. But you have a whole society that ruthlessly hunts down girl children," she noted ruefully.
According to the 2001 census, the national sex ratio was 933 girls to 1,000 boys, with northern states faring the worst. The worst–affected state is Punjab (798 girls to 1,000 boys) followed by Delhi (821 girls to 1000 boys) and Haryana (861 girls to 1000 boys).
Overall, India has 927 girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of six, as opposed to the worldwide average of 1,050 girls.
Society
India to launch 'cradle scheme' to prevent female infanticide
By: Jacob Chaterjee
Thursday, 1 March 2007, 14:21 (IST)
Copyright © 2007 Christian Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior permission.
Have your say on this article
Added: Thursday, 1 January 1970, 6:03 (IST)
I applaud Madam Renuka chawdhry for atleast showing concern for this issue.I have been following her takes on many issues concerning girl child and women rights and I have found her taking right and strong actions in her war against age old customs of Indian society. I wish to compliment on her works and thank her for doing what she is doing. I hope she is alos able to fight our red tape sysatem to implement her visions for Indian women and girl kids.
manisha, Pune Maharashtra
Top Stories
Society Headline
