Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Madhya Pradesh reported more cases of infanticide and foeticide than any other state in the country in 2012,and much more than in any previous year since 2008,a reflection of how long a way campaigns such as Beti Bachao Andolan still have to go.
According to data for 2012 released by the National Crime Records Bureau,MP accounted for 64 of 210 cases of feoticide reported across the country. The previous years count of 38,too,was the highest in the country. MPs 17 cases of infanticide follows 13 in 2011; that year,it was joint highest with Uttar Pradesh.
Figures for the last five years show MPs performance consistently poor while other states that have traditionally suffered foeticide and infanticide,such as Punjab,Haryana,Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan,have brought their figures down from time to time.
The NCRB does not maintain a gender-wise breakup of foeticide and infanticide. The last census,however,showed a substantial decline in MPs sex ratio for children up to age six.
The figures come amid a series of measures against such trends over the last few years. A combination of incentives and disincentives,these include boycott of dowry-seekers,a Ladli Laxmi Yojana,pension for parents whose only children are girls,and symbolic steps such as washing the feet of girls during Navratra and promoting adoption of the girl child.
It is generally agreed that the actual number of foeticide and infanticide cases is much higher than those reported,especially in rural areas where deaths are passed off as due to natural causes. Compliance with the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act,1994,which insists on maintenance of records and registration of machines,continues to be lax.
According to the 2011 census,the child sex ratio in MP fell to 918 from 932 in the previous census. In rural areas,the fall was from 939 to 923; in urban areas it was from 907 to 901. In the 10 years since 2001,the male child population rose by 56,325 while that of girls fell by 29,144.
Sachin Jain of Vikas Samvad argues that only economic incentives like Ladli Laxmi or pension wont be of much help in a society that deliberately neglects girls. More than 60 per cent malnourished children are girls. You dont require weapons to kill; systematic discrimination is enough.
