Analysis of the Skewed Sex Ratio and Female Foeticide in India

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Introduction
Female foeticide is the extreme manifestation of violence against women in which female foetus is killed illegally, deliberately and selectively from the mother's womb, after knowing sex of the child through medical techniques.It is violation of "right to life" and "right over body" [1].It is very shocking that the main perpetrator of this nefarious deed of female foeticide is women (mother or grandmother of foetus).Women oppressed by cultural, social, economic factors and powerful patriarchy devaluate their own gender and commit this crime [2].It is matter of shame and serious concern.Because of female foeticide and infanticide India lags behind several nations in aspects of education, gender discrimination and health.The advanced medical technology, ultrasound, amniocentesis etc. are misused for carrying illegal female foeticide [3].Census2011 shows unbalanced declining female to male proportion.Sex ratio is an important parameter indicating balance between male and female.Despite of increased literacy and economic development, this evil has not ended and is continually rising [4] .As per Thomson Reuters Trust law recent survey, India ranks at fourth position for women due to increased number of female foeticides, infanticides etc.The obsession of male child in carrying family lineage and property inheritance and the evil of dowry combined with sex determination technologies instigate the sex selective abortions [5].The act of female foeticide is a grave social issue causing serious ecological and demographical implications.Skewed sex ratio will disturb social balance and increase sexual assault, bridal crisis, women insecurity etc. Latest UNFPA report shows that 4.6crore females are 'missing' due to son preference in India.Indian Government has enforced many laws to curb female foeticide and encourage girl child birth and has launched several campaigns and providing financial aids for saving girl child, yet the weak enforcement of laws is unable to stop female foeticide.To study problem of female foeticide, it is necessary to closely monitor sex ratio in India in context of rural/urban region, religion.In this paper, principal causes of female foeticide, its impacts on society, the legislative measures taken to fight against female foeticide and government initiatives are discussed.The issue of female foeticide requires urgent attention and action.

Objectives
1. To analyze sex ratio and child sex ratio (CSR) of India and make its global comparison, analyze the sex ratios of Indian states in various post-independence census years and hence look for prevalence of incidents of female foeticide in rural/urban areas and religion wise.2. To find out the factors leading to female foeticide and its impacts on society 3. To discuss the laws passed against female foeticide 4. To discuss various government initiatives to curb the female foeticide.

Research Methodology
This study is based exclusively on secondary sources of data.The data is collected from journals, magazines, internet, research papers, official and non-official records of department of planning and welfare, department of economics and statistics.

Data Analysis and Discussion
Gender inequality: Sex ratio (no. of women per1000 males) is very important metric to quantify women's deficit at certain point and region.The countries with worst sex ratio i.e., the countries with intense gender discrimination or with unbalanced sex ratio at birth (Source: CIA World Fact book 2016) are presented in table1.Biologically, normal sex ratio at birth varies from 102-106 males for every 100 females [6].Liechtenstein has 126males,China has 115 males, Armenia has 113 males and India has112 males per 100 females [7].Comparative study of status of countries on sex ratio in the world indicates the position of India at 4 th rank is very disappointing.India is behind only Liechtenstein, China and Armenia (tribuneindia.com).Among the most populated nations throughout the world the Russia, Indonesia, Brazil and USA have sex ratio in favour of females while China and India have unbalanced sex ratio in favour of males.Azerbaijan, Vietnam 111% The world factbook (2020 estimates) of sex ratio at birth of India and its neighbouring countries show sex ratio is 1.11(111 males per 100 females) for India and china,1.06 for Myanmar, Nepal,1.05 for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan and it is 1.04 for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh [8].Sex selective female foetus killing is at high rate in India and China, while rest of neighboring countries have a better sex ratio.According to WHO, globally the natural sex ratio across population is 952: 1000.Numbers that fall below this are indicative of gender bias.Figure 1 shows sex ratio in post-independence census years.As seen from figure, after independence Sex ratio is always less than 952 in India indicates a great deal of gender inequality.In the three census years 1951, 1961, 1971 sex ratio steadily decreased and in 1981, sex ratio slightly increased than previous decade.After 1991 the sex ratio is increased in 2001 and 2011census [9].At the national level, sex ratio increased from 933 females in 2001 to 943 females in 2011 to 1021 females per 1000 males, recording an increase by 28 points in the last three decades.As per the new NFHS-5 (2019-21), sex ratio in India has improved to 1021 females per 1000 males and India is moving closer to the global sex ratio, Although India showed encouraging increased sex ratio, yet it is not favorable for child sex ratio.All the seven census years post-independence (1951 to 2011) report continuous decrease in child sex ratio in India.The figure 2 shows child sex ratio in various decennial censuses postindependence.The relation of male, female and total literacy rate with child sex ratio is found for various census years after independence (figure 3, source; census 2011).It is found that although male, female and total literacy rate increased in all census years, yet the CSR decreased recurrently in these census years.The sex ratio and child sex ratio in census year 2011 in India (state wise) along with literacy in rural and urban regions is presented in table 2. The table shows that there was no state having CSR > 1000 in 2011census, while in1971, five states had CSR>1000.The rural areas have eighteen points' greater CSRi.e.,923 girls for 1000 boys are reported in rural areas while there are only 905 girls per 1000 boys in urban areas (figure 4).
The nefarious crime of female foeticide is maximum in hindu religion (figure 5).One of the objectives of 11 th five year plan was to improve declining child sex ratio (0-6 age group) to 935 by 2011-12 and 950 by 2016-17 but the CSR of 919 in census 2011 reveals that the goal was not achieved.Table 2 shows that for most of the Indian states, the literacy is higher in urban areas, but the sex ratio is higher in rural areas.Census 2011 shows that higher literacy contributes to declining sex ratio whereas lower literacy results in higher sex ratio.It is attributed to easy access of sex selection technologies in urban areas.
According to census 2011, the Indian states and Union territories with worst sex ratio are Punjab (846), Chandigarh (880), Haryana (834), Delhi (871) and Jammu and Kashmir (862).According to latest and fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted between 2019&2021, the sex ratio of Punjab is 938 women per 1000 men.Its sex ratio at birth is 904 girls born per 1000 boys, is different figure as it estimates of all births over the last five calendar years.Punjab's numbers are lower than national average for both, the sex ratio (1020:1000) as well as the sex ratio at birth (929).The evil of female foeticide is prevailing in Indian society from several years due to desire for male child.There are many religious beliefs, social factors, and economic factors etc. that lead to this malpractice.

Consequences of female foeticide
Female foeticide is a social issue that causes gender disparity in the society.The impacts of this malpractice are huge and some of them are summarized below [13].
• Unbalanced Sex ratio • Bridal crisis and Polyandry • Women kidnapping and trafficking • Selling of women like commodities • Enhancing crime like rape and assaults • Drug and Alcohol Abuse • Decline in population • Mother suffer physically, morally, mentally and psychologically • Deterioration in fertility of women • Violation of rules, regulations and religious ethics • Increased child marriage A number of measures have been taken to control the female foeticide and protect the society from its adverse effects.Indian government has taken no. of steps like offering aids to girls and their parents, enforcement of laws against female foeticide 7 The laws passed in India to reduce the menace of female foeticide [14] 2. Dhan Lakshmi Scheme, 2008: The scheme focuses to reduce female infanticide cases in India by providing insurance coverage and educational incentive.For girls born after November 8, 2008 and registered under this scheme, initial cash reward of Rs.5000 is given.Immunization cash incentives of Rs.1250 were given to girls aged 6 to 24 months.The scheme covers cost of a girl child's education, from her enrolment to retention in school until eighth grade.To prevent early girl child marriage when girl turns 18, parents are given insurance cover of 1lakh 3. Kanya Jagriti Jyoti Scheme, 1996 (Punjab State Government): Girls who are born on or after 26 January 1996 in the families with low annual income (less than 20,000) and has followed two children family policy can take the benefit.It is mandatory that the girl should study up to metric.At the time of birth of female child Rs. 5000 is paid.Every year a scholarship of Rs. 1200 (age group 6-12 years) and Rs.2400 (age group12-18 years) will be paid to the beneficiaries or lump sum amount will be paid at the age of 18 or in 21 years as per the wish of the family.4. Balri Rakshak Yojna, 2007: This scheme provides an incentive of Rs. 500 per month to those girl children whose parents adopt terminal method of sterilization after birth of the second girl child. 5. Nanhi Chaan, 2008: It aims at creating awareness to curb declining number of both females and trees.6. Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Kalyan Scheme: With the aim to curb the female foeticide and to provide better education to girls, this scheme provides benefit of Rs. 20,000 at birth of girl child.The money is invested in the name of the child with LIC and the girl receives enhanced payments at various stages of life.The benefit is limited to a maximum of two girls per family.scheme" runs in Amritsar where people leave unwanted child in cradle fixed in Red cross societies for adoption rather than killing.The practice can be followed in other Indian states too.

Strict enforcement of existing laws:
Though in India, most laws are framed efficiently, but their execution is ineffective.

Harsh Action against Defaulters:
License of the doctors who are found guilty of doing this misdeed should be cancelled and fined heavily.Judicial action should be taken against parents, who knowingly kill their girl child before her birth.Heavy penalties should be imposed on companies who sell medical instruments used in pre-natal sex determination, to unlicensed clinics and hospitals.4. Awareness generating Campaigns: Campaigns like "Save the Girl Child Campaign" is required to create an aura in everyone's mind and heart that there is no difference between sons and daughters.5. Women Empowerment: Women empowerment is the best tool to fight malpractice of female foeticide and it can be achieved by improving self-image and education level of women 6. Role of Medical Colleges and Professional bodies: Medical colleges and professional bodies such as IMA, FOGS and association of radiologists play a significant role to burn this burning issue.Medical students should be sensitized towards the adverse sex ratio and unethical issues in female foeticide.7. Girl child welfare schemes: Indian Government has started many welfare schemes for the upliftment of the socio-economic status of women so as to improve the unbalanced sex ratio.There is need to raise awareness about these schemes so as to promote birth of girl child and balance the declined sex ratio.8. Financial incentives: Several financial perks and incentives offered by government on birth of second girl child and to single girl child are helpful to some extent to stop female foeticide.

Conclusions
Female foeticide is the biggest sin against humanity when unborn innocent females are slaughtered by their parents.Women are given lower status, disrespected and disregarded due to ignorance because of culturalsocial, religious reasons, poverty, illiteracy and practice of dowry.Patriarchy, easy availability of cheap technology and weak enforcement of laws in India has led to female foeticide.Female foeticide has severe consequences like unbalanced sex ratio, women trafficking, bride deficit, and increase in rapes and assault, polyandry and population decline.There should be strict enforcement of existing laws, banning of tests for sex determination and abortions.Defaulters should be punished and women should be empowered so that they can stand themselves against discrimination and harassment.More girl welfare schemes should be started for holistic development and empowerment of girl children.A combined initiative by the medical, law and teaching professionals, administrative leaders, NGOs, media, and the society is the need of the hour.

Fig 2 :
Fig 2: Child sex ratio in various decennial censuses post-independence

Table 2 :
The sex ratio and child sex ratio in census year 2011 in India (state wise) along with literacy in rural and urban regions

Scheme, 2007:
It is launched by govt. of Karnataka from2006-07 with the aim of encouraging birth of girl children in low-income families.Financial assistance to girl child is given through mother, father, guardian to fulfil certain conditions.A girl child born in BPL family after March 31 st , 2006 can enroll as beneficiary of this scheme.After enrolling and verifying, the govt. of Karnataka will deposit Rs. 19300 in the elite financial institution under first girl's name and Rs.18300 under the second girl.After girl child gets 18 years of age, an amount of Rs.100097 and 100052 is given to first and second girl child in the same family.8.

Mukhya Mantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana:
It was launched in Bihar in 2008.The objectives are to prevent female foeticide, to encourage birth of girl child, to improve sex ratio etc.Under this scheme, govt. of Bihar contributes Rs 2000 for every girl child born on or after November 22, 2007 & belonging to BPL families.The amount is fixed deposited in UCO & IDBI banks.After completing 18 years, amount equal to maturity will be paid to girl child.9

. Delhi Ladli Scheme, 2008:
The scheme is launched with objectives to control female foeticide, to improve sex ratio and put an end to gender prejudice.Financial assistance is provided in the form of end deposits-Rs.11000 if born in hospital, Rs. 10,000 if born at home at the time of registration and Rs.5000/ each when girl gets admission in class I, VI, IX, XI, XII 10.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP):
Launched in 2015, this addresses declining child sex ratio, prevent foeticide-biased abortion and related issues of women empowerment.Indian government extends financial help to run this scheme.

11. CBSE Udaan Scholarship Scheme:
It was launched in 2014 with the aim to promote educational opportunities among girl students.

12. Sukanya Samridhi Yojana: Launched
in 2015, A welfare scheme developed as a part of beti bachao, beti padhao campaign it is a saving scheme aimed at betterment of girl child in country 13.

National Scheme of incentives to girls for secondary education
: A centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2008 aims to encourage enrolment of girl child in age group of 14-18 for secondary education.A sum of 3000/ is fixed deposited in name of unmarried girls on enrolment in class IX, they can withdraw money and interest on completing 18 years and passing class X.14.Mukhbir Yojna:To arrest the cases of female foeticide, the yojana was launched in Uttar Pradesh.Under the scheme government gives reward of 2 lakh to the informer who alerts authorities about incidents of female foeticide.15.

State government schemes for the girl child
: "Mamta scheme" a government initiative in Goa, provides financial incentive of 10,000 to the mother delivering female child in registered medical institution.Govt. of Haryana provides "Ladli Social security Allowance Scheme" providing financial help to families of girl child/children.Government of Uttar Pradesh provides financial help of Rs. 2000-5000 as scholarships under monetary benefit scheme 'Kanya Sumangala Yojana'.The government of Madhya Pradesh provides financial help upto Rs.30,000 in the name of girl child under the scheme 'Ladli Laxmi Yojana'.
The'Bangaru Talli' scheme of Andhra Pradesh support girl's family from her birth till graduation.9Suggestions1.Cradle Baby Scheme: To curb female foeticide and improve sex ratio, a scheme called Bhangura