1.

FEMALE FOETICIDE IN INDIA

Female foeticide is the act of aborting a foetus because it is female. The frequency of
female foeticide is indirectly estimated from the observed high birth sex ratio, that is the ratio
of boys to girls at birth. The natural ratio is assumed to be between 103 to 107, and any
number above it is considered as suggestive of female foeticide. According to the decennial
Indian census, the sex ratio in the 0 to 6 age group in India has risen from 102.4 males per
100 females in 1961, to 104.1 in 1981, to 107.8 in 2001, to 108.8 in 2011. The child sex ratio
is within the normal natural range in all eastern and southern states of India, but significantly
higher in certain western and particularly northwestern states such as Punjab, Haryana and
Jammu & Kashmir (120, 118 and 116, as of 2011, respectively).High birth sex ratio and
implied female foeticide is an issue that is not unique to India. Even higher sex ratios than in
India have been reported for the last 20 years in China, Pakistan, Vietnam, Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Georgia and some Southeast European countries. There is an ongoing debate as to
whether these high sex ratios are only caused by female foeticide or some of the higher ratio
is explained by natural causes.
The Indian government has passed Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic
Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) (PCPNDT) Act in 2004 to ban and punish
prenatal sex screening and female foeticide. It is currently illegal in India to determine or
disclose sex of the foetus to anyone. However, there are concerns that PCPNDT Act has been
poorly enforced by authorities

2. BACKGROUND
India is one of the several countries where higher human sex ratio is observed. This is
assumed to be caused by female foeticide, an assumption that is the subject of considerable
scholarly debate and continuing scientific studies. Human sex ratio is the relative number of
males to females in a given age group. The natural human sex ratio at birth was estimated, in
a 2002 study, to be close to 106 boys to 100 girls.
Human sex ratio at birth that is significantly different from 106 is often assumed to be
correlated to the prevalence and scale of sex-selective abortion. A birth sex ratio impacts a
society's overall sex ratio over time, as well the child sex ratio in near term. In India, child

sex ratio is defined as the ratio of boys to girls in 0-6 year age group. India's child sex ratio
was 108 according to its 2001 census, and 109 according to its 2011 census. The national
average masks the variations in regional numbers according to 2011 census Haryanas
ratio was 120, Punjabs ratio was 118, Jammu & Kashmir was 116, and Gujarats ratio was
111. The 2011 Census found eastern states of India had birth sex ratios between 103 and 104,
lower than normal. In contrast to decadal nationwide census data, small non-random sample
surveys report higher child sex ratios in India.
The child sex ratio in India shows a regional pattern. Indias 2011 census found that
all eastern and southern states of India had a child sex ratio between 103 to 107, typically
considered as the natural ratio. The highest sex ratios were observed in India's northern and
northwestern states - Haryana (120), Punjab (118) and Jammu & Kashmir (116). The western
states of Maharashtra and Rajasthan 2011 census found a child sex ratio of 113, Gujarat at
112 and Uttar Pradesh at 111. The Indian census data suggests there is a positive correlation
between abnormal sex ratio and better socio-economic status and literacy. Urban India has
higher child sex ratio than rural India according to 1991, 2001 and 2011 Census data,
implying higher prevalence of female foeticide in urban India. Similarly, child sex ratio
greater than 115 boys per 100 girls is found in regions where the predominant majority is
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian; furthermore "normal" child sex ratio of 104 to 106 boys
per 100 girls are also found in regions where the predominant majority is Hindu, Muslim,
Sikh or Christian. These data contradict any hypotheses that may suggest that sex selection is
an archaic practice which takes place among uneducated, poor sections or particular religion
of the Indian society.
3. HIGH SEX RATIO IMPLIES FEMALE FOETICIDE
One school of scholars suggest that any birth sex ratio of boys to girls that is outside
of the normal 105-107 range, necessarily implies sex-selective abortion. These
scholars[ claim that both the sex ratio at birth and the population sex ratio are remarkably
constant in human populations. Significant deviations in birth sex ratios from the normal
range can only be explained by manipulation that is sex-selective abortion. In a widely cited
article, Amartya Sen compared the birth sex ratio in Europe (106) and United States (105)
with those in Asia (107+) and argued that the high sex ratios in East Asia, West Asia and
South Asia may be due to excessive female mortality. Sen pointed to research that had shown
that if men and women receive similar nutritional and medical attention and good health care

then females have better survival rates, and it is the male which is the genetically fragile
sex. Sen estimated 'missing women' from extra women who would have survived in Asia if it
had the same ratio of women to men as Europe and United States. According to Sen, the high
birth sex ratio over decades, implies a female shortfall of 11% in Asia, or over 100 million
women as missing from the 3 billion combined population of India, other South Asian
countries, West Asia, North Africa and China.
4. HIGH HUMAN SEX RATIO MAY BE NATURAL
Other scholars question whether birth sex ratio outside 103-107 can be due to natural
reasons. William James and others suggest that conventional assumptions have been:

there are equal numbers of X and Y chromosomes in mammalian sperms

X and Y stand equal chance of achieving conception

therefore equal number of male and female zygotes are formed, and that

therefore any variation of sex ratio at birth is due to sex selection between conception
and birth.
James cautions that available scientific evidence stands against the above assumptions

and conclusions. He reports that there is an excess of males at birth in almost all human
populations, and the natural sex ratio at birth is usually between 102 to 108. However the
ratio may deviate significantly from this range for natural reasons such as early marriage and
fertility, teenage mothers, average maternal age at birth, paternal age, age gap between father
and mother, late births, ethnicity, social and economic stress, warfare, environmental and
harmonal effects. This school of scholars support their alternate hypothesis with historical
data when modern sex-selection technologies were unavailable, as well as birth sex ratio in
sub-regions, and various ethnic groups of developed economies. They suggest that direct
abortion data should be collected and studied, instead of drawing conclusions indirectly from
human sex ratio at birth.
James hypothesis is supported by historical birth sex ratio data before technologies for
ultrasonographic sex-screening were discovered and commercialized in 1960s and 1970s, as
well by reverse abnormal sex ratios currently observed in Africa. Michel Garenne reports that

many African nations have, over decades, witnessed birth sex ratios below 100, that is more
girls are born than boys. Angola,Botswana and Namibia have reported birth sex ratios
between 94 to 99, which is quite different than the presumed 104 to 106 as natural human
birth sex ratio. South Korea's historical records suggest a birth sex ratio of 1.13, based on 5
million births, in 1920s over a 10 year period. Other historical records from Asia too support
James hypothesis. For example, Jiang et al. claim that the birth sex ratio in China was 116
121 over a 100 year period in late 18th and early 19th century; in the 120123 range in early
20th century; falling to 112 in the 1930s.
Origin

Male to female sex ratio for India, based on its official census data, from 1941
through 2011. The data suggests the existence of high sex ratios before and after the arrival of
ultrasound-based prenatal care and sex screening technologies in India.
Female foeticide has been linked to the arrival, in the early 1990s, of
affordableultrasound technology

and

its

widespread

adoption

in

India. Obstetric

ultrasonography, either transvaginally or transabdominally, checks for various markers of

fetal sex. It can be performed at or after week 12 of pregnancy. At this point, 34 of fetal sexes
can be correctly determined, according to a 2001 study. Accuracy for males is approximately
50% and for females almost 100%. When performed after week 13 of pregnancy,
ultrasonography gives an accurate result in almost 100% of cases.
5. AVAILABILITY

Ultrasound technology arrived in China and India in 1979, but its expansion was
slower in India. Ultrasound sex discernment technologies were first introduced in major cities
of India in 1980s, its use expanded in India's urban regions in 1990s, and became widespread
in 2000s.
Magnitude estimates for female foeticide
Estimates for female foeticide vary by scholar. One group estimates more than 10
million female foetuses may have been illegally aborted in India since 1990s, and 500,000
girls were being lost annually due to female foeticide.MacPherson estimates that 100,000
abortions every year continue to be performed in India solely because the fetus is female.
Child sex ratio and foeticide by states of India
2011 Census sex ratio map for the states and Union Territories of India, boys per 100
girls in 0 to 1 age group.
The following table presents the child sex ratio data for India's states and union
territories, according to 2011 Census of India for population count in the 0-1 age group.The
data suggests 18 states/UT had birth sex ratio higher than 107 implying excess males at birth
and/or excess female mortalities after birth but before she reaches the age of 1, 13 states/UT
had normal child sex ratios in the 0-1 age group, and 4 states/UT had birth sex ratio less than
103 implying excess females at birth and/or excess male mortalities after birth but before he
reaches the age of 1.

Boys
State / UT

(0-1

age)
2011 Census

Girls (0-1 age)

2011 Census

Sex ratio
(Boys per
100 girls)

India

10,633,298

9,677,936

109.9

JAMMU & KASHMIR

154,761

120,551

128.4

HARYANA

254,326

212,408

119.7

Boys
State / UT

(0-1

age)
2011 Census

Girls (0-1 age)

2011 Census

Sex ratio
(Boys per
100 girls)

PUNJAB

226,929

193,021

117.6

UTTARAKHAND

92,117

80,649

114.2

DELHI

135,801

118,896

114.2

MAHARASHTRA

946,095

829,465

114.1

LAKSHADWEEP

593

522

114.0

RAJASTHAN

722,108

635,198

113.7

GUJARAT

510,124

450,743

113.2

UTTAR PRADESH

1,844,947

1,655,612

111.4

CHANDIGARH

8,283

7,449

111.2

DAMAN & DIU

1,675

1,508

111.1

BIHAR

1,057,050

957,907

110.3

HIMACHAL PRADESH

53,261

48,574

109.6

MADHYA PRADESH

733,148

677,139

108.3

GOA

9,868

9,171

107.6

Boys
State / UT

(0-1

age)
2011 Census

Girls (0-1 age)

2011 Census

Sex ratio
(Boys per
100 girls)

JHARKHAND

323,923

301,266

107.5

MANIPUR

22,852

21,326

107.2

ANDHRA PRADESH

626,538

588,309

106.5

TAMIL NADU

518,251

486,720

106.5

ODISHA

345,960

324,949

106.5

DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI

3,181

3,013

105.6

WEST BENGAL

658,033

624,760

105.0

KARNATAKA

478,346

455,299

105.1

ASSAM

280,888

267,962

104.8

NAGALAND

17,103

16,361

104.5

SIKKIM

3,905

3,744

104.3

CHHATTISGARH

253,745

244,497

103.8

TRIPURA

28,650

27,625

103.7

MEGHALAYA

41,353

39,940

103.5

Boys
State / UT

(0-1

age)
2011 Census

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Girls (0-1 age)

2011 Census

Sex ratio
(Boys per
100 girls)

11,799

11,430

103.2

2,727

2,651

102.9

KERALA

243,852

238,489

102.2

PUDUCHERRY

9,089

8,900

102.1

MIZORAM

12,017

11,882

101.1

ANDAMAN

&

NICOBAR

ISLANDS

Reasons for female foeticide

Various theories have been proposed as possible reasons for sex-selective abortion.
Culture is favored by some researchers, while some favor disparate gender-biased access to
resources. Some demographers question whether sex-selective abortion or infanticide claims
are accurate, because underreporting of female births may also explain high sex
ratios. Natural reasons may also explain some of the abnormal sex ratios.Klasen and Wink
suggest India and Chinas high sex ratios are primarily the result of sex-selective abortion.

6. CULTURAL PREFERENCE
One school of scholars suggest that female foeticide can be seen through history and
cultural background. Generally, male babies were preferred because they provided manual
labor and success the family lineage. The selective abortion of female fetuses is most
common in areas where cultural norms value male children over female children for a variety
of social and economic reasons. A son is often preferred as an "asset" since he can earn and
support the family; a daughter is a "liability" since she will be married off to another family,

and so will not contribute financially to her parents. Female foeticide then, is a continuation
in a different form, of a practice of female infanticide or withholding of postnatal health care
for girls in certain households. Furthermore, in some cultures sons are expected to take care
of their parents in their old age. These factors are complicated by the effect of diseases on
child sex ratio, where communicable and noncommunicable diseases affect males and
females differently.
7. DISPARATE GENDERED ACCESS TO RESOURCES
Some of the variation in birth sex ratios and implied female foeticide may be due to
disparate access to resources. As MacPherson (2007) notes, there can be significant
differences in gender violence and access to food, healthcare, immunizations between male
and female children. This leads to high infant and childhood mortality among girls, which
causes changes in sex ratio.
Disparate, gendered access to resources appears to be strongly linked to
socioeconomic status. Specifically, poorer families are sometimes forced to ration food, with
daughters typically receiving less priority than sons (Klasen and Wink 2003). However,
Klasens 2001 study revealed that this practice is less common in the poorest families, but
rises dramatically in the slightly less poor families. Klasen and Winks 2003 study suggests
that this is related to greater female economic independence and fewer cultural strictures
among the poorest sections of the population. In other words, the poorest families are
typically less bound by cultural expectations and norms, and women tend to have more
freedom to become family breadwinners out of necessity.
Lopez and Ruzikah (1983) found that, when given the same resources, women tend to
outlive men at all stages of life after infancy. However, globally, resources are not always
allocated equitably. Thus, some scholars argue that disparities in access to resources such as
healthcare, education, and nutrition play at least a small role in the high sex ratios seen in
some parts of the world. Laws and regulations. A sign in an Indian hospital stating that
prenatal sex determination is a crime.
India passed its first abortion-related law, the so-called Medical Termination of
Pregnancy Act of 1971, making abortion legal in most states, but specified legally acceptable
reasons for abortion such as medical risk to mother and rape. The law also established

physicians who can legally provide the procedure and the facilities where abortions can be
performed, but did not anticipate female foeticide based on technology advances. With
increasing availability of sex screening technologies in India through the 1980s in urban
India, and claims of its misuse, the Government of India passed the Pre-natal Diagnostic
Techniques Act (PNDT) in 1994. This law was further amended into the Pre-Conception and
Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) (PCPNDT) Act in
2004 to deter and punish prenatal sex screening and female foeticide. However, there are
concerns that PCPNDT Act has een poorly enforced by authorities.
The impact of Indian laws on female foeticide and its enforcement is unclear. United
Nations Population Fund and India's National Human Rights Commission, in 2009, asked the
Government of India to assess the impact of the law. The Public Health Foundation of India,
an premier research organization in its 2010 report, claimed a lack of awareness about the Act
in parts of India, inactive role of the Appropriate Authorities, ambiguity among some clinics
that offer prenatal care services, and the role of a few medical practitioners in disregarding
the law.[12] The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India has targeted education and
media advertisements to reach clinics and medical professionals to increase awareness. The
Indian Medical Association has undertaken efforts to prevent prenatal sex selection by giving
its members

Beti Bachao (save the daughter) badges during its meetings and

conferences. However, a recent study by Nandi and Deolalikar (2013) argues that the 1994
PNDT Act may have had a small impact by preventing 106,000 female foeticides over one
decade.
According to a 2007 study by MacPherson, prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act
(PCPNDT Act) was highly publicized by NGOs and the government. Many of the ads used
depicted abortion as violent, creating fear of abortion itself within the population. The ads
focused on the religious and moral shame associated with abortion. MacPherson claims this
media campaign was not effective because some perceived this as an attack on their
character, leading to many becoming closed off, rather than opening a dialogue about the
issue.This emphasis on morality, claims MacPherson, increased fear and shame associated
with all abortions, leading to an increase in unsafe abortions in India.
The government of India, in a 2011 report, has begun better educating all stakeholders
about its MTP and PCPNDT laws. In its communication campaigns, it is clearing up public
misconceptions by emphasizing that sex determination is illegal, but abortion is legal for

certain medical conditions in India. The government is also supporting implementation of

programs and initiatives that seek to reduce gender discrimination, including media campaign
to address the underlying social causes of sex selection.
Other recent policy initiatives adopted by many states of India, claims Guilmoto,
[

attempt to address the assumed economic disadvantage of girls by offering support to girls

and their parents. These policies provide conditional cash transfer and scholarships only
available to girls, where payments to a girl and her parents are linked to each stage of her life,
such as when she is born, completion of her childhood immunization, her joining school at
grade 1, her completing school grades 6, 9 and 12, her marriage past age 21. Some states are
offering higher pension benefits to parents who raise one or two girls. Different states of
India have been experimenting with various innovations in their girl-driven welfare policies.
For example, the state of Delhi adopted a pro-girl policy initiative (locally calledLaadli
scheme), which initial data suggests may be lowering the birth sex ratio in the state.
Response from others
Increasing awareness of the problem has led to multiple campaigns by celebrities and
journalists to combat sex-selective abortions. Aamir Khan devoted the first episode
"Daughters Are Precious" of his show Satyamev Jayate to raise awareness of this widespread
practice, focusing primarily on Western Rajastan, which is known to be one of the areas
where this practice is common. Its sex ratio dropped to 883 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011 from
901 girls to 1000 boys in 2001. Rapid response was shown by local government in Rajastan
after the airing of this show, showing the effect of media and nationwide awareness on the
issue. A vow was made by officials to set up fast-track courts to punish those who practice
sex-based abortion. They cancelled the licences of six sonography centres and issued notices
to over 20 others.
This has been done on the smaller scale. Cultural intervention has been addressed
through theatre. Plays such as 'Pacha Mannu', which is about female infanticide/foeticide, has
been produced by a women's theatre group in Tamil Nadu. This play was showing mostly in
communities that practice female infanticide/foeticide and has led to a redefinition of a
methodology of consciousness raising, opening up varied ways of understanding and
subverting cultural expressions.

The Mumbai High Court ruled that prenatal sex determination implied female
foeticide. Sex determination violated a woman's right to live and was against India's
Constitution.
The Beti Bachao, or Save girls campaign, has been underway in many Indian
communities since the early 2000s. The campaign uses the media to raise awareness of the
gender disparities creating, and resulting from, sex-selective abortion. Beti Bachao activities
include rallies, posters, short videos and television commercials, some of which are
sponsored by state and local governments and other organisations. Many celebrities in India
have publicly supported the Beti Bachao campaign.
CONCLSION
The incidence of sex selective abortions is the worst form of gender based
discrimination against women. The causes for elimination of girl child indicate that
the reasons are similar and different depending upon the geographical location in
which female infanticide is practiced.

An exorbitant dowry demand is one of the main reasons for female infanticide

and foeticide.

Some of the other reasons are the belief that it is only the son who can perform the
last rites, lineage and inheritance runs through the male line, sons will look after
parents in old age, men are bread winners etc.
Strong male preference and consequent elimination of female has continued
to increase rather than decline with the spread of education.
The recent technological developments in medical practice combined with a
vigorous pursuit of growth of the private health sectors have led to the mushrooming
of a variety of sex-selective services. The increase in female foeticide has been seen
proportionate decrease in female sex ratio which has hit an all time low especially in
the 0-6 age group and if the decline is not checked the very delicate equilibrium of
nature can be permanently destroyed.
In order to stop this evil practice, the legislature has enacted certain laws
which are the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act,

1971 and the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of

Sex Selection Act) 1994.
The Indian Penal Code is the first law which contained provisions under
sections 312 to 316 for prohibiting miscarriage. These sections penalise violent or
forced abortions. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 liberalised law
and allowed termination of pregnancy on medical grounds, humanitarian grounds
and eugenic grounds. The real efforts on behalf of legislature to curb the evil practice
of female foeticide started with the passing of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques
(Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994. The Act was amended in 2002 and
renamed as the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of
Sex Selection) Act, 1994. In order to prevent female foeticide, the PC & PNDT Act,
1994 provide provisions under which Supervisory Board, appropriate authorities and
advisory committees are to be constituted by the Central Government as well as by
the State Government.
The extent and effect of enforcement of laws can be seen from the fact that
the first women who lodged a complaint five years ago, against her in-laws for prenatal sex determination still awaits for Justice. Despite all the hue and cry about
missing daughters, till the end of January 2006, just 308 persons had been
prosecuted, but not a single person had been convicted under the PNDT Act.
Inspite of all the laws in place, the sex ratio is declining at a very high
speed. Confronted with this situation, it is high time to take preventive measures
against female foeticide. We have to stop looking for quick fixes and instead face the
problem squarely. Female foeticide cannot be addressed in isolation, so a holistic
approach is necessary to stop female foeticide.
Following are some suggestions to combat the evil of female foeticide:

(1)

The related social malaises such as dowry, poverty, womens unemployment

and exploitation, lack of proper education to girl child and their dropouts early
marriage etc. are to be dealt with sternly by enacting proper laws and implementing
them in true spirit.

(2)

Affirmative action on part of the government and the corporate sector by

providing security for parents and granting financial aid to the girl child can help in
changing the mindset of the society of treating the girl as a burden.

Corporate initiatives, such as Beti Ek Anmol Ratan scheme in which the

donations are invested in mutual funds, Kisan Vikas Patras & National Savings
Certificates in the name of new born girls and on maturity (Age of 21 years) to be
utilised for higher education or marriage; has found favour with the parents and the
scheme is yielding positive results.

Government schemes like LADLI have created gender revolution in national

capital, and impacted sex ratio in favour of the girl child. Banks need to be
encouraged to give loans for female childs higher education at lower rates of
interest. Old age pension should be given to parents with no sons and having only
daughters.

(3)

Awareness programmes should be launched to make the woman aware

about their rights and about the ill effects of abortions. Women should know their
rights

regarding

adoption,

maintenance,

marriage,

property,

employment,

educationetc.

(4)

In order to make the females independent, women should be imparted skill

and training through various vocational programmes. Free and compulsory

education should be provided to female children so that they can support themselves
during exigency. Also it would remove the attitude that investing in girls is
unnecessary.

(5)

As dowry is considered to be an important cause of female foeticide, the

Dowry Prohibition Act should be made more stringent by proper amendments

and should be implemented strictly.

(6)

Medical termination of pregnancy should only be permitted after approval of

PNDT

authority/committee/gazetted

female

officer/Mahila

Panchayat

members/NGOs on proof of the existence of medical condition necessitating such

termination.

(7)

Parliament should enact laws on similar lines so as to ensure healthy growth

and safe birth of an unborn child.

The foetus should enjoy the right to life and should enjoy distinct legal
rights

which should be recognized from the conception, because failure to

recognize the right to life on the foetus will amount to discrimination violating Article
14

of the Constitution of India. Regarding the Unborn Childs rights in the realm of

torts, the Congenital Disabilities (Liability) Act, 1976, was passed by the British
Parliament providing for action that may lie against a person or

authority

whose breach of duty to a parent results in a child being born disabled, abnormal
and unhealthy. Similarly the Nuclear Installation Act of 1965 (U.K.), recognizes
liability for compensation in respect of injury or damage caused to an unborn child by
occurrences involving nuclear matter or emission of ionizing radiation. The Indian

(8)

Village level committees should be set up to watch the pregnant women

besides setting up the Appropriate Authorities and Advisory committees at the District
and Sub-District levels.

(9)

There is need for social awareness that girls can grow up to be as good as

boys. They can be good citizens, good earners, good providers for their family and
for their parents. That woman need not be sold for dowry or burnt for it, that her
education can make her self-sufficient and economically blessed as a man. A clear
and strong social preference for the girl child is required to be created which can be
done by generating awareness.

(10)

In society, the members of the medical community enjoy a powerful position.

Medical professionals should counsel their patients and their families on the
importance of the girl child and impact of the skewed sex ratio on the society.

The Indian Medical Association, a professional body of practicing doctors,

should come forward and implement a No Sex Determination Code for Doctors. The
Doctors need to be reminded of their sacred duty of protecting human life in any form
rather than becoming a party in destruction of human foetus in the womb. Licence to
practice medicine of those doctors, who are found guilty under the PNDT Act, 1994
or MTP Act, 1971 should be cancelled and they should be debarred from practicing
medicine for life. Step taken by the Indian Medical Association constituting a special
cadre of 50 doctors to self police and make doctors understand their moral and legal
responsibility to ensure a healthy sex ratio, is a step in the right direction.

(11)

Although section 27 of the PNDT Act, 1994 makes the offences cognizable,

non-bailable and non-compoundable, the Police cannot take action in view of section
28 of the Act. This difficulty in initiation of criminal proceedings against offender
should be removed.

(12)

The members of Appropriate Authority are mainly doctors and they are

reluctant to launch criminal proceedings against fellow doctors. Therefore, the

enforcement agency should be a different body of professionals consisting
of

(13)

police, social workers and doctors.

Effective implementation of the PNDT Act needs to be assured through,

ensuring registration, curbing the spread of mobile ultrasound, regulating sale of new
machines, ensuring compliance of the Act like keeping records and submitting them
to the Authorities in time, preferably online like the birth records are being done now;
monitoring the functioning of these ultrasound clinics, complete audit of all
pregnancy ultra sounds across the country (audit all F forms submitted).

(14)

Laws prohibiting sex selective abortions should be strictly implemented and

the violators should be punished.

(15)

As most of the decisions are made by men in the families, they need to be

sensitized about the practice of female foeticide and consequences thereof. The
education curriculum should be made gender sensitive, leading to gradual formation
of a changed value system in coming generation.

(16)

A social audit of all documents received from sonography clinics and making

the data regarding sale of ultrasound machines, which are used for illegal sex
determination tests, should be made available online. Information received will help
governmental and non-governmental organisation in estimating the targets for proper
implementation of the Acts and for suggesting remedial measures to combat the
problem. By involving all the stakeholders, a comprehensive social audit can be
conducted to launch a crusade against female foeticide.

(17)

Determining the sex of the foetus as female and killing her subsequently

amounts to murder. So the punishment should be life imprisonment or death

sentence as in the case of intentional causing of death under section 300 of IPC.

(18)

A major hurdle in the endeavour to prohibit sex-determination and regulation

of PNDT techniques is that there is no proper duty laid upon any of the authorities in
the Act. Therefore, penalty must be imposed for non-performance of duties or acts of
commission or omission by the Authorities.

(19)

All abortions must be registered. In cases where a healthy female foetus is

aborted, both the doctor and the family should be brought to book.

Unless social action is supplemented with prompt implementation of regulations

under the law meant to stop female foeticides, such practices will continue to flourish
and sex selective abortions will make women endangered species.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. http://unicef.in/PressReleases/227/Female-foeticide-in-India
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_foeticide_in_India
3. https://www.google.co.in/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEAQFjAF&
url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oneyoungworld.com%2Fsites
%2Fwww.oneyoungworld.com%2Fthemes%2Fcustom%2Foneyoungworld%2Fpdf
%2FEssay4.pdf&ei=95MGVYzdFIa6uAST34DoCQ&usg=AFQjCNGymlPo5uIetq_gHsWi2wjpvQcnQ&sig2=suyubhP7Ql-hJxlf0GaS0A
4. https://www.google.co.in/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CFQQFjAI&u
rl=http%3A%2F%2Fmedind.nic.in%2Fjal
%2Ft08%2Fi3%2Fjalt08i3p157.pdf&ei=95MGVYzdFIa6uAST34DoCQ&usg=AFQj
CNEh-BFQZ4yP47aVCvYavaR6U2snZQ&sig2=HPci5dJiBGqjiFlC11Wg9w