Time is running out-Please wake up!

SEMINAR ON FEMALE FOETICIDE

DEEP THINKERS ORGANISATION (DTO), a group of socially awakened and conscious persons from all walks of life, under its Conscious Living Programmes, organized and conducted yet another public seminar on the subject – FEMALE FOETICIDE. The seminar was held at Riverside Sports and Recreation Club, Mayur-Vihar-1,Delhi, on 17^th December, 2005 and was attended by  a large gathering of people of the area and adjoining places. The Guest Speakers in the seminar were- Justice Manju Goel, sitting Judge of the High Court of Delhi and Dr.Sharda Jain, Chairperson, Delhi Gynecologists Forum.. The  meeting was presided over by  Shri K.P.Verma, Former District and  Session Judge, Delhi and a spiritual leader, and was convened and conducted by Shri Suresh C. Gupta, Advocate Supreme Court and his colleague Shri Arun Mahajan.

The meeting began with a charged and emotional speech of Shri Gupta, on the subject, who quoted lines from the poem of the revolutionary poet, late Sahir Ludhianavi- Aurat ne janam diya mardo ko, mardo ne use bazaar diya…As per Mr. Gupta, if Sahir was alive today he would have said- Aurat ne janam diya mardo ko, mardo ne use paida hone se pahle hee maar diya. Strongly deprecating the practice of female foeticide, rampant in the country and as a result of which serious consequences have surfaced and will further follow, he read out the relevant extracts from a  Supreme Court Judgment and Order –

       It is unfortunate that for one reason or the other, the practice of female infanticide still prevails despite the fact that gentle touch of a daughter and her voice has soothing effect on the parents. One of the reasons may be the marriage problems faced by the parents coupled with the dowry demand by the so-called educated and/ or rich persons who are well placed in the society. The traditional system of female infanticide whereby female baby was done away with after birth by poisoning or letting her choke on husk continues in a different form by taking advantage of advance medical techniques. Unfortunately, developed medical science is misused to get rid of a girl before birth. Knowing full well as it may amount to an offence, foetus of girl child is aborted by qualified and unqualified doctors or compounders. This has affected overall sex ratio in various States where female infanticide is prevailing without any hindrance.  

Mr. Gupta raised a pertinent question, as to, in a country where women are considered as `Shakti ka Roop’ and worshipped in the form of Mother Goddess Durga, Kali, Laxmi and Saraswati why such a heinous crime is being committed, despite stringent laws existing on the subject. WHY?

Shri K.P.Verma, in his presidential address spoke about the aims and objects of the Organisation, which primarily include creating awareness- legal, medical, social etc. amongst the members of the public. He then formally introduced the subject.

Dr. Sharda Jain, Chairperson Delhi Gynecologists Forum,while praising and congratulating the members of the  DTO for conducting such a seminar and choosing a topic like female foeticide for discussion, pointed out that it was/is a serious problem, and being a practicing doctor, a gynecologist, the topic was dear to her heart. Commenting that the politicians and bureaucrats will not deliver the goods in this regard she lamented that only the civil society has to rise and do something substantial. As per Dr.Jain studies show that in South-East Asia alone, 100 million girl child are missing and India alone accounts for 40 millions. She said with sadness that we are basically hypocrites – we talk about and discuss such topics in meetings and when we reach home we forget them altogether. Rather some of us go and contribute to the problem. According to her this problem is not of  poor people but that of rich and affluent lot. She reminded the words of  Late K.R.Narayanan, former President of India- No place is safe for women not even the mother’s womb. Attacking the preference to male child she questioned- When a person falls sick and hospitalized who comes and attends, mostly the daughter. Son and daughter-in law may not even turn up for various reasons, including property dispute(s).Dr. Jain in her speech further said that- statistics reveal that the problem of misbalanced sex ratio is more in the Northern States of India which include Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, and further- it is more prominent in urban areas. These states have girl/boy ratio as 900/1000 and some pockets of Delhi the ratio is as less as – 650/1000. According to her- It is an URBAN SHAME since the problem is less in villages. As a consequence females are purchased/ bought in some areas and markets /mandis for these are coming up.

 Dr. Jain pointed at the sad and grim situation and said- We are heading for a daughter- less India. She also explained how the modern medical techniques for sex determination, available today, are abused and mis-utilized for getting rid of the female foetus. Although there are laws on the subject, Pre- Natal Diagnostic Techniques ( Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994, in short- PNDT ACT,1994, banning/ prohibiting such activities, they have not  been able to prove themselves very fruitful, especially since hardly any complaints are being filed or acted upon.

Emphasizing once again on the pro-active role of the civil society itself  Dr.Jain suggested that there should be a complete social boycott of people who resort to such deeds and methods, taking away the life of a girl child- the parents, the family members and even the doctors. They should as such be called in public, and branded- KURI MAAR  (DAUGHTER SLAUGHTERERS) . Complaints against such persons and acts should be filed most promptly and due pressure should be built up and action taken by all concerned to achieve their logical end. Slogans such as- MUJHE MAT MARO, KUNWARE RAH JAOGE etc. should be more publicized and people should be made aware of the gravity of the situation and also told that certain myths such as Pind-daan etc. have no religious sanctity nor a part of Vedas. First and foremost, we should try to abolish dowry- which has been the root cause.

Making the people sense the  urgent need she pleaded- time is running out- please wake up.  

After the heart moving and informative speech of Dr. Jain, Justice Manju Goel, spoke most eloquently and authoritatively on the subject, in as much as the audience heard her with a pin-drop silence, and holding their breath. As per Justice Goel, despite the fact that 66% of the  total work, in the world, is done by women, they share income of 10% only, and further properties owned by them is a meager !%, absolutely - No justification. In fact, the work done by women is not valued as she is generally considered a housewife doing menial or so-called non-productive jobs. However the same is not true and it has to be made clear to all concerned.

Justice Goel pointed out that-the sex ratio (girl/boy) is constantly decreasing in India whereas all advanced countries have positive figures i.e. girls are more than thousand per 1000 boys.  She also informed that it is an established /scientific fact that- Female foetus is stronger than the male foetus. If no abortion takes place, sex ratio should be more. Unfortunately this is not the position in India and in places like Delhi, the Capital of the Country, and where  the so-called literate and educated reside- the sex ratio is as low as 868/1000. According to her, it is a matter of gender discrimination. She rightly pointed out that most of the wills are drafted and made, simply to deprive the daughters form their due share(s) in the property/ properties.

As per Justice Goel- Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act,1971 has been the real culprit. By the provisions of this Act/legislation- the guilt to kill the foetus was taken away, which earlier was an offence U/S.313 of Indian Penal Code.

While concluding, Justice Goel gave certain valuable and pertinent suggestions, such as-

-Loopholes in MTP ACT are to be plugged

-Every case of MTP should be reported and records be kept

-In each case of MTP the sex of the foetus be determined and recorded

-There should be a Standing Investigating Agency constituted of and comprising of- police personnel, health workers, lawyers, social activists etc.

- Helpline facilities through telephones etc. should be provided

- People should blow the whistle, moment they come across or are informed of such activities.

- Quacks are to be eliminated as these are the people who indulge more in such activities.

-Check should be put on sale of oral medication which can induce abortion.

- Last but not the least- Improve the status of woman in the society- by improving her status first in your mind.

- A serious introspection is required to be done- question yourself- Am I not responsible for the situation if I value a woman less than a man.

The speeches of both the speakers were supported by  power point presentations which exhibited most relevant and valuable informations.

The interactive session included the questions/suggestions from the distinguished members of the  public, such as-Female child should be made economically self-sufficient by giving her proper education and other necessary supports. Justice Goel agreed and reminded the gathering of what Father of the Nation- Mahatama Gandhi had said- If you educate a man you educate a person,if you educate a woman you educate a family. As per  Dr. Agarwal- Dowry should be completely done away with and he also suggested that everybody in the house should take an oath or promise that they shall declare before dying that their last rights will be performed by their daughter(s), as he  himself has already done so in his will.

The meeting concluded with the vote of thanks given by Sh. Arun Mahajan, Advocate and co-convener of the DTO.

 ( Deep Thinkers Organisation invites questions and suggestions from the readers and other members of the public. We shall be thankful for the same)

MEMBERS OF THE DEEP THINKERS ORGANISATION WISH YOU ALL A VERY VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR