The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Female infanticide still a scourge in Dharmapuri district

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Female infanticide still a scourge in Dharmapuri district

By S. Prasad

DHARMAPURI, APRIL 18. Dharmapuri has a high incidence of female infanticide with 48 cases being reported in 2003. Besides, there has been a rise in the prevalence of foeticide. According to a recent health survey female sex ratio (in the 0-6 age group) is 878 for 1,000 males in Dharmapuri while the national average is 938 females for 1,000 males.

According to C. Sevathan, Project Manger of SEARCH, "Socio-economic factors such as dowry and the preference for a male child in a patriarchal society are the main causes of infanticide and foeticide." The female sex ratio is rapidly decreasing. To eradicate female infanticide and foeticide, SEARCH, in association with like-minded NGOs, has taken up an awareness programme in Karimangalam block.

"Cultural programmes and dramas are held in every village on female infanticide with the slogan `Caring of women from womb to tomb' and not to discriminate the birth of a girl child."

As a first step panchayat health workers and coordinators undertake a survey of high-risk pregnant women in their villages. A special committee has been formed to keep a close watch on pregnant women. Through a multilevel approach health workers, in association with village administrative officers and nurses, create awareness among pregnant women on the dangers of infanticide. They keep a watch on women from the conception stage and interact closely with the couple and motivate them to drop the idea of terminating pregnancy, if the child is a girl.

Mr. Sevathan said, "Counselling is also provided to family members and continuous monitoring of the family is done on pregnant women till delivery takes place." A committee for the prevention of female infanticide conducts public meetings and creates awareness among people in every panchayat. Although these health workers and sangam members saved many girl children from the jaws of death many cases go unreported as the families migrate to the neighbouring States.

Kandhai, who planned to kill her third girl child, has given it for adoption after counselling. She feels that only the pathetic condition of her family had compelled her to take the extreme step of killing her child.

If the family does not want a girl child then provisions are being made for legal adoption and the cradle baby centre is only considered as a last preference says a health worker. Panchayat health workers and sangam members also encourage women with two female children to go in for a family planning operation as this would enable them receive Rs. 12,500 in fixed deposit for both the children.

According to sources, "The rapidly increasing and widespread availability of modern scientific devices and technologies such as ultrasonography and MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) has led to widespread misuse."

The Department of Health has also given strict instructions to private scanning centres that they can divulge only the well-being of the baby and cannot determine the sex, which is punishable with two years imprisonment.

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