Karnataka - Bellary   

Decline in sex ratio, a matter of concern

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELLARY, MARCH 5. Manjula Chellur, Karnataka High Court judge, expressed concern over the decline in the sex ration and urged people to be serious about reducing this disparity.

Inaugurating a function to educate women about law, as part of the National Legal Aid for Women and Education Week, at Kammarchedu village near here, Ms. Manjula said that according to the available statistics, the ratio is 926: 1000. The disparity in the sex ratio is not only due to female foeticide but also because of malnutrition in pregnant women.

Atrocities

Ms. Manjula said that it is a matter of grave concern that in a country where women are honoured and held in high esteem, there are reports of atrocities being committed on women every 31 minutes and a case of rape is reported every 45 minutes.

Ramadevi, a lawyer, spoke on the Anti Dowry Act and said that anything that is sought from a woman's family is considered dowry. The laws are so stringent that if a married woman dies under suspicious circumstances within seven years of marriage, it can be considered as death due to dowry harassment. She urged people and non-governmental organisations to help victims get legal aid. Ms. Ramadevi also urged parents to make a vow not to take or give dowry.

The former chairman of the Karnataka State Bar Council, Uded Basavaraj, spoke about the Hindu Marriage Act. He said that conducting child marriages is a crime.

Education

The Principal District and Sessions Judge, K.G. Hosur, presided over the function. He said that most of the problems faced by women could be solved through education. Referring to the increase in the number of cases in courts, he said that around 16 lakhs cases are pending in the State and it will take 35 years to dispose of the cases with the available resources. The Additional District Judge, Kulkarni, and the President of Bellary Bar Association, N. Ayyappa, were among the chief guests. B.T. Kumuda Nayak, coordinator of the Nehru Yuvaka Kendra, judicial officers and lawyers were present.

The Secretary of the District Legal Aid Authority, B.K. Naik, welcomed. Prabhakar Kore proposed vote of thanks.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements | Entertainment |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Decline in sex ratio, a matter of concern

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu