Essays

The Commonwealth Games 2010 brought laurels to the country and especially brought Punjab and Haryana to limelight as seven girls from Haryana and three girls from Punjab bagged medals. Ironically, these two states are also majorly in news for the skewed sex ratio as Haryana reports the dismal figure of 830 female children and Punjab 846 against per 1000 male child, according to the 2011 census, In 2011, when our country is eloquent in citing that the status of women is equal to men, these figures tell a different story, Equality of rights becomes secondary, when primarily females are not even allowed to enter this world. The evil of Female Foeticide is deeply entrenched in our society, and pervades all classes and castes of the society, A family does not think twice before killing a girl-child, though they would ceremoniously pray to goddess Lakshmi. Kali and Durga four times a day!

While it is often believed that such ill-practices are largely part of the lower strata of society, shockingly, the recent trend reveals that many Indian couples are flocking to neighbouring countries like Thailand and Bangkok to escape laws here, as Gender-selection is illegal in India, According to d recent report by a national daily 'A growing number of couple's arc finding a way around the ban by going to Thailand where there are no laws against it. Doctors use pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a method that involves producing embryos through IVF and implanting only those of the desired gender (male) into the womb. At around $8,500, excluding flights, it's not cheap, but it seems a price couples are willing to pay."

It is interesting to analyze the reasons that lead to such a biased mind-set. Some believe !hat boys are an investment as they would grow family's lineage and would secure their parents' future, in comparison to girls who are considered liability as they need to be warded off with enormous dowry. Furthermore, there are others who believe that in a male-dominated society, females' safety issues are immense and since growing-up girls involves trouble, boys are an easy option.

Today, women have reached the Moon and Mt. Everest but on the Earth her situation is much the same. From Saina Nehwal to Kalpana Chawala, from our first woman President Pratibha Patil to businesswoman Naina Lal Kidwai, females have left no sphere unturned to prove their worth and credibility to the society. However, much is left desired. There is a great need to empower women, so that 'hey become self-reliant and capable of taking their own decisions, rather than getting influenced and pressurized by in-laws or husbands or other social pressures. Through greater awareness, consideration and understanding, we can bring a shift in the perception of the society to give equal space to the girl-child. A little change in our attitude is all that is needed to welcome daughters in our hearts and in this world.