Delhi: Girl child: Most unwanted in city

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Subject: Delhi: Girl child: Most unwanted in city

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*Girl child: Most unwanted in city *

New Delhi: If the haves and have-nots in the city have one thing in common,
its female foeticide. With a sex ratio of 762 girls to 1,000 boys (Lancet
Research, 2007), Delhi's declining tolerance for the girl child is
symptomatic of the country's inability to get rid of old mindsets. A recent
study by an NGO has only underlined what we always knew — the city does not
want girls to be born in its families.

The findings of the study, conducted by the Centre for Social Research
(CSR) with support from the ministries of health and women and child
development, are shocking. The three localities selected for the study —
Punjabi Bagh, Narela and Najafgarh — have the lowest sex ratio in the city.

Here's a sample of some of the findings — incidents or knowledge of
sex-selective abortions or female foeticide, going by responses, is a high
69.9% in Narela, 55% in Punjabi Bagh and 11.5% in Najafgarh. The quest for
the male child doesn't end here. A healthy 18.3% of people in Najafgarh and
26% in Narela even take ''medication' ' to ensure that a son is born. And if
that's not enough, 57.8% of people in moneyed Punjabi Bagh are willing to
observe religious ceremonies to get a male child.

Said Ranjana Kumari, director, CSR, ''The culprits are the private
clinics and informal rural practioners or quacks. Community findings of the
study show that people know which clinic or hospital conducts such
sex-determination tests as well as the resultant abortions. When we
questioned the clinics, however, their staff denied such practices and
claimed they were following government norms.'' According to Kumari, closer
questioning led many clinics to claim that ultrasound facility — the tool
for sex determination — had been discontinued in the clinic though boards
outsidesaid otherwise.

The study, with a sample size of 1200 respondents and 55 medical units,
comprising ultrasound clinics and MTP (medical termination of pregnancy)
clinics, showcased findings that are similar across both caste and social
standing. Whether it's the lower classes or the rich, neither wants a girl
child.

The reasons are manifold. From old customs and traditions to economic
constraints like dowry and lack of support in old age, everything seems to
be against the female child. Added Manasi Mishra, research head at CSR,
''For instance, Punjabi Bagh is a locality which has money as well as
educated respondents, yet the sex ratio is only 842, lesser than Delhi's
886/1000 as well as the national average of 927/1000 (Figures according to
2001 Census).''

++++++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ ++++++++

*DELHI'S SEX RATIO GETS WORSE**
*
'*Meri shakti meri beti* '
A study on female foeticide conducted by Centre for Social Research (CSR)
for the ministry of health and family welfare and ministry of women and
child development
*
**PROJECT AREAS **
**Areas with lowest sex ratio in city
*Narela 828 girls
Punjabi Bagh 842
Najafgarh 841

Sample size | 1200

respondents and medical units, including ultrasound clinics, MTP centers
55

**

*FINDINGS** ** *

*> *38 % in Punjabi Bagh, 71 % in Narela and 13.5 % in Najafgarh say
old customs and family tradition are main reasons for male child preference

Ø Economic compulsions like dowry, education and lack of support in
old age from girls as well as last rites being a boy's prerogative also
cited

Ø Awareness and incidents of sex-selection in Narela are 69.9 %, 55 %
in Punjabi Bagh and 11.5 % in Najafgarh

Ø 18.3 %, 7.5 % and 26 % in Najafgarh, Punjabi Bagh and Narela take
medication for male child.

Ø Majority of sex-selective abortions performed by doctors/nurses of
private clinics and informal rural practitioners or quacks

Ø Though clinics denied incidents, community people named 2-3 clinics
and nursing homes in each area

Ø People aware that female foeticide is an illegal activity but not
aware of PC & PNDT Act

Ø Most of the information on awareness on female foeticide is from
television

*FAST FACTS** *

*> *India has lost over 10 million girls to female foeticide in past 20
years
> The 2001 census figure for Delhi is 886 girls per 1000 boys. The
national average is 927/1000
> Latest research (2007) by Lancet, a popular medical journal, for NCR
says Delhi has only 762 girls for every 1,000 boys, lower than the national
average
>> Female foeticide most in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi

++++++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ ++++++++

It's the findings of the medical audit that are the most shocking
however. While doctors are aware of female foeticide happening in the
locality, no one is willing to go on record against the practice. Many
pathology labs don't have a consulting gynaecologist though ultrasound
facility is easily available. The awareness level about PC & PNDT Act is
abysmal: 69% and 67.9% of respondents in Punjabi Bagh and Najafgarh didn't
know about the anti-sex determination act. Added Kumari, ''The clinics claim
to comply with norms — like filling forms after every ultrasound conducted —
but it's only on paper. Information on sex determination is passed on by
staff of the clinic, if not the doctor.''

The only good news from the finding is the slow, but steady,
dissemination of information. Respondents said television was the best
message provider, though there's a grey area about information on whom to
complain to about sex determination.

Interestingly, there's only one recorded complaint against sex
determination that CSR claims has been made till date. Said Kumari, ''A
woman, Neetu Khurana, has complained against her husband, a doctor. Khurana
has claimed that he asked her to udnergo abortion on learing her twins were
girls. The police however have refused to register a case till date.'' That
seems to sum up the city's attitude.

(*Rumu Banerjee/Times of India)*