Hi dear Rediffiland friends,

The news two days ago in ‘The Guardian’ has encouraged me to write this blog. The news headlines were as follows: ‘India’s secret shame’. I am terribly disturbed by going through the news and I hope this would bring some kind of awareness, if at all it reaches the people who have authority and power to change the situation. Now this tells me that, it’s not only 3 million who are suffering (ie; people below the poverty line) but also another 1 million, and this 1 million is gender based, FEMALE INFANTICIDE. Killing in the name of culture and traditions, isn’t this a shame?

Let me start by talking about the scenario:

The sex ratios in the country are getting worse "day by day". India now has 930,000 missing girls every year. What we are talking about is a massive, hidden number of deaths. There are illegal maternity clinics, assisted by a team of nurses, they 'help' expectant parents determine the sex of their foetuses and abort the female ones if the parents so desired. The foetuses were secretly disposed off. I just can’t believe that!

This is because a female child is considered as a burden with loads of responsibility, keeping vigil as soon as she turns into an adult, and also the parents have to work hard towards paying off this huge amount of dowry, once it is time for her wedding. So where does culture and traditions take you too? To the harmful depths of infanticide, cruel enough to destroy an innocent life who hasn’t even seen the world?

My opinion would be that India is stepping into a dangerous territory whereby men will not find a woman to get married and therefore no children. Men will have to face situations like living his life on his own with no wife and kids….

India a great civilisation and also the land of a thousand Gods, were Lakshmi (female God) is worshipped, how come such tragedies are allowed? I can say that India is too far away from women empowerment. Only the people in cities and towns are educated and independent, what about the rest of the 60% living in villages?

I am just trying to create some awareness……The huge Indian population is approaching a standstill…..that is if this continues to happen. I believe that man-power/ (womanpower!) is an asset to any country. Please keep forwarding this message to all your friends if possible. This is a human rights issue…..which in turn can topple this emerging economy upside down.

Cheers!

elamor