The document discusses the issue of female feticide in India. It begins by introducing the girl child as both promising yet facing despair. It then outlines some of the societal factors that have endangered female children in India, such as dowry and the desire to keep wealth within the family. It defines female feticide as the abortion of a female fetus, often done under family pressure. Some of the long term consequences of female feticide mentioned are a skewed sex ratio and increases in trafficking, rape and assault. The document concludes by outlining some national and international laws and campaigns that have aimed to curb the practice of female feticide.

2. Welcome to the world of the girl child,
promising yet gloomy, hopeful, yet in
despair. The hand that rocks the cradle,
the procreator, the mother of tomorrow; a
woman shapes the destiny of civilization.
Such is the tragic irony of fate, that a
beautiful creation such as the girl child is
today one of the gravest concerns facing
humanity, with a volley of summits,
conferences and events held for the cause,
with topmost world leaders at the helm.

3. The society is meant to be the most vital
support system of a human being. It is
shame then, that in a developing country,
such norms of the society itself have
victimized and endangered the very
existence of the female child in India.

4. † Menace of dowry
† Fear of loss of face in local community
† Desire to keep the wealth within the family,
through sons
† Fear of dependence of the girl on the family,
for life
† Attempt to control family size
† Wish to appease Gods in times of crisis

8. Female feticide is the selective abortion/elimination of the girl child in the
womb itself, done deliberately by the mother, after the detection of the child’s
gender through medical means. This is usually done under familial pressure
from the husband or the in-laws or even the woman’s parents. Unplanned
pregnancy is generally the reason behind abortion. However, female feticide is a
far more heinous sin than the age old practice of killing an unwanted child,
even before it’s born.

9. Ø Preference for the male child
Ø Deteriorated Status of Women
Ø Foul Medical Ethics
Ø Industrial Growth

11. Long TermConsequences
Ø Skewed Sex Ratio
Ø Female/Women Trafficking
Ø Increase in Rape and Assault

13. Many international and national law making bodies
have come forward to stop this cruel practice. Of
the numerous steps taken to curb the matter, the
prominent ones are:
Cancellation/permanent termination of the doctor’s
license who partakes in fulfilling a client’s demand to
do away with her girl child.
Heavy penalty imposed on companies like GE, that
specialize in marketing medical equipment's used for
illegal sex determination and abortion in unlicensed
clinics and hospitals.

14. High fines and judicial action against ‘parents’
who knowingly try to kill their unborn baby.
Widespread campaigns and seminars for young
adults and potential parents to enlighten them
about the ill effects of female feticide.
Ignorance is one of the major causes for the
increase in the selective sex abortion cases.
Spreading awareness can go a long way in
saving our future sisters, mothers, girlfriends and
wives.