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
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
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1.
|
Project co-ordinator
|
1
|
2
|
Medical Doctor (part time)
|
1
|
3
|
Counselor –(Full time)
|
1
|
4
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Field investigator
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1
|
5
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Trained Nurse (Full time)
|
1
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6
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Clerk (Typing, Accounting and Store Keeper)
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1
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7
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Peon
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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.
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