The encroachment in medical science and technology vis-à-vis pre-natal sex determination technique has extensively and abhorrently been tainted or rather maltreated in the Indian conventional, traditional society. Still in the 21st century the blessing with a female baby barely brings convivial bliss in majority of the Indian societies. This medical development is shoddily used in carnage of the girl child in mother’s womb. In yesteryear, especially in urban areas the pre-natal diagnostic centers have burgeoned across the nation. Such advancement in medical science and technology has lowered the status of women in India. India is a place where people worship several goddesses and known for its paying respect to women and their status. If in such a country people do not welcome a girl child with open arms it is a matter of shame. In order to prevent the girl child from being killed before birth, the Government took a notable initiative by enforcing the PRE-CONCEPTION AND PRE-NATAL DIGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES (PROHIBITION OF SEX SELECTION) ACT, 1994. This Act is an endeavor in the part of the Government to prohibit female foeticide and sex determination tests. If such practices are carried out by the doctors or in any medical institutions it is punishable under law.
Female foeticide and sex determination is a worst aspect of gender discrimination.If we want to curb this discrimination Socio-economic empowerment of women is essential. Socio-economic empowerment of women is essential for making informed decisions and for change of the mind sets. The Government of India has undertaken a number of initiatives for this, such as Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP), The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA), National Rural Livelihood Mission(NRLM) and loans through the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh. This should go a long way in empowering women and enable them to take decisions about the birth of children, their spacing, retain girl children and improve the nutritional and educational status.
Definitely it is one of the most shameful act to determine sex and female foeticide. In a country like India where Goddesses in various forms are worshiped, such act is really disgraceful. Although, Government has enacted act to prohibit sex determination and female foeticide, it is still continuing on an illegal basis. The enforcement of these laws should be strong and stern punishment should be awarded in order to stop such crimes.
Female Foeticide and sex determination is a crime but unfortunately, it is still practiced in India illegally despite of enacting Laws to stop it. Education in the right and proper direction can put an end to this illegal as well as shameful practice. People should be made understood about the importance of girls in the society and that they are no more a liability as well as they are capable of doing stuffs as a boy does and it is no shame to have a girl child. This can perhaps stop these illegal activities that are going on in many places.
