dahiyars
December 2nd, 2007, 02:28 PM
Pre-Birth Elemination of Female & new paradigm of development in Haryana.
The issue of missing girls and women in Haryana has gone to an alarming stage and needs a serious in depth overview so that some concrete interventions can be thought of. Consumerist oriented economic development, commercialization of medical profession and sexiest biases in our society, two child norm population policy,combined together have created a sad scenario of ‘missing girls’. Global comparisons of sex ratios shows that sex ratios in Europe, North America, Caribbean, Central Asia, the poorest regions of Sab Saharan Africa are favaourable to woman as these countries neither kill / neglect girls nor do they use NRT’s for productions of sons. On the other hand the lowest sex ratio is found in some parts of India and Haryana is one of them.Out of lowest 10 disricts from below in 0-6 years sex ratio 3 are from Haryana-Kurukshetra-770,Sonepat -783, Ambala-784 and overall being 820.This practice had been earlier also in form of female infanticide but now it has taken a new turn with wide spread use of new reproductive technologies in Haryana during the period of Green revolution. These NRT’s are based on principle of selection of the desirable and rejection of the unwanted. In Haryana desirable is “baby boy” and the unwanted is the “baby girl” and the result is obvious. The census results of 2001 have revealed that with sex ratio of 927 girls for 1000 boys, India had deficit of 60 lakh girls in age group of 0-6 years, when it entered the new millennium. In Haryana we are deficit of 331773girls in the age group of 0-6 years as per 2001 census. These NRT’s in the context of patriarchal control over women’s fertility and commercial interests are posing major threat to women’s dignity and bodily integrity. Two child norm policy is also creating a negetive impact .The supporters of Pre Birth Elemination of Females put forward various arguments like ‘ Pay Rs 500 now and save Rs 5,00,000 later’ and “Women’s choices” as if women’s choices are made in vaccum.Also it need to be clarified that the right to abortion must remain as an essential right of women, a right to determine their life, their body and fertility. In this context the crucial and important questions is can we allow the Haryanvi girls to become an endangered species?
Dr. Sabu George and myself conducted a study on female foeticide in rural Haryana in a rural population of about 13,000 in Rohtak district and we interviewed more than 1000 women to know the pregnancy outcome during 1995 to 2000.We have found that the ‘Sons only’ and “Sons Must” syndrome has been perpetuated by resorting to female foeticide, using the modern technological tools, thus reinforcing patriarchal values as cultural determinants. In any society not only Haryana, if high levels of gender inequality are allowed, it is only logical to accept skewed sex ratios and few women available to a given number of men (resulting in a polyandrous society over a period of time) to lead normal lives. This is resulting in more atrocities domectic and societal on women in form of rapes etc, health problems of women, emotional disturbances and even economic exploitation.Purchase of brides from other states like Jharkhand, Uttranchal, Bihar, Bengal and North east is on increase.In our survey done in 2004 in 12 villages there were 50 such cases. In last Panchayat elections it became an election issue that if they will win they will arrange for more purchased brides
When we discussed the issue with the group of women in study villages, they had a misconception that if their number decreases, their worth will increase. Actually
reduction in the number of women would enhance atrocities domestic and societal on women
Economic theory of Demand & Supply does not hold good.
Women cannot be equated with Onion or Tomato.
In most South Asian Societies low sex ratio reflects their lower status (Haryana as well).
Rape, forced marriages, polyandry, social insecurity, sex stereotyping, purchase of brides will increase.
Women will be compelled to stay within their homes.
Powerful will have a JANANKHANA others will resort to menial means.
To murder a women on refusal to have forcible sex will become an accepted norm.
As per the data published by the National Crimes Record Bureau, New Delhi, out of the total 1,15,723 cases related to women and registered under IPC in 1996, rape accounted for 14,846 (12.8 per cent), dowry deaths 5513 (4.8 per cent) and cases of torture 35,246 (30.5 per cent).
In 1994, 98, 948 cases were registered under crime against women compared to 83,954 cases in 1993 and 79,037 in 1992. The figure was 74,093 in 1991 and 68,317 in 1990.
The National Commission for Women is a statutory body constituted under the National Commission for Women Act 1990 to protect and promote the interests and to safeguard the rights of women.
From January to December 2000, the Commission received a total of 5,268 complaints, which included dowry deaths 527, murder 235, rape 277, molestation 11, dowry harassment 963, sexual harassment 131, bigamy 110, desertion of wives 267 and other types of harassment 2,747.
They also told that they have to have extra care from the birth of the girl child till they are married and later life as well becouse of increasing insecurity in the society. They revealed that when a girl is born, there is atmosphere of ‘Mattam’ and when boy is born this is celebrated by beating a ‘thali’ and distribution of sweets.Tradition of 6th day celebration on birth of a boy ‘Chhath’ is there. A mother who give birth to a boy is given 10 kg of ghee and the mother giving birth to a girl is given 5 kg in the villages. When asked whether they celebrate the ‘Namkaran Sanskar’ of girls, all of them answered in negative. Similarly many traditional discriminatory points came in to discussion. (list is very long) confirming again
cotn---
The issue of missing girls and women in Haryana has gone to an alarming stage and needs a serious in depth overview so that some concrete interventions can be thought of. Consumerist oriented economic development, commercialization of medical profession and sexiest biases in our society, two child norm population policy,combined together have created a sad scenario of ‘missing girls’. Global comparisons of sex ratios shows that sex ratios in Europe, North America, Caribbean, Central Asia, the poorest regions of Sab Saharan Africa are favaourable to woman as these countries neither kill / neglect girls nor do they use NRT’s for productions of sons. On the other hand the lowest sex ratio is found in some parts of India and Haryana is one of them.Out of lowest 10 disricts from below in 0-6 years sex ratio 3 are from Haryana-Kurukshetra-770,Sonepat -783, Ambala-784 and overall being 820.This practice had been earlier also in form of female infanticide but now it has taken a new turn with wide spread use of new reproductive technologies in Haryana during the period of Green revolution. These NRT’s are based on principle of selection of the desirable and rejection of the unwanted. In Haryana desirable is “baby boy” and the unwanted is the “baby girl” and the result is obvious. The census results of 2001 have revealed that with sex ratio of 927 girls for 1000 boys, India had deficit of 60 lakh girls in age group of 0-6 years, when it entered the new millennium. In Haryana we are deficit of 331773girls in the age group of 0-6 years as per 2001 census. These NRT’s in the context of patriarchal control over women’s fertility and commercial interests are posing major threat to women’s dignity and bodily integrity. Two child norm policy is also creating a negetive impact .The supporters of Pre Birth Elemination of Females put forward various arguments like ‘ Pay Rs 500 now and save Rs 5,00,000 later’ and “Women’s choices” as if women’s choices are made in vaccum.Also it need to be clarified that the right to abortion must remain as an essential right of women, a right to determine their life, their body and fertility. In this context the crucial and important questions is can we allow the Haryanvi girls to become an endangered species?
Dr. Sabu George and myself conducted a study on female foeticide in rural Haryana in a rural population of about 13,000 in Rohtak district and we interviewed more than 1000 women to know the pregnancy outcome during 1995 to 2000.We have found that the ‘Sons only’ and “Sons Must” syndrome has been perpetuated by resorting to female foeticide, using the modern technological tools, thus reinforcing patriarchal values as cultural determinants. In any society not only Haryana, if high levels of gender inequality are allowed, it is only logical to accept skewed sex ratios and few women available to a given number of men (resulting in a polyandrous society over a period of time) to lead normal lives. This is resulting in more atrocities domectic and societal on women in form of rapes etc, health problems of women, emotional disturbances and even economic exploitation.Purchase of brides from other states like Jharkhand, Uttranchal, Bihar, Bengal and North east is on increase.In our survey done in 2004 in 12 villages there were 50 such cases. In last Panchayat elections it became an election issue that if they will win they will arrange for more purchased brides
When we discussed the issue with the group of women in study villages, they had a misconception that if their number decreases, their worth will increase. Actually
reduction in the number of women would enhance atrocities domestic and societal on women
Economic theory of Demand & Supply does not hold good.
Women cannot be equated with Onion or Tomato.
In most South Asian Societies low sex ratio reflects their lower status (Haryana as well).
Rape, forced marriages, polyandry, social insecurity, sex stereotyping, purchase of brides will increase.
Women will be compelled to stay within their homes.
Powerful will have a JANANKHANA others will resort to menial means.
To murder a women on refusal to have forcible sex will become an accepted norm.
As per the data published by the National Crimes Record Bureau, New Delhi, out of the total 1,15,723 cases related to women and registered under IPC in 1996, rape accounted for 14,846 (12.8 per cent), dowry deaths 5513 (4.8 per cent) and cases of torture 35,246 (30.5 per cent).
In 1994, 98, 948 cases were registered under crime against women compared to 83,954 cases in 1993 and 79,037 in 1992. The figure was 74,093 in 1991 and 68,317 in 1990.
The National Commission for Women is a statutory body constituted under the National Commission for Women Act 1990 to protect and promote the interests and to safeguard the rights of women.
From January to December 2000, the Commission received a total of 5,268 complaints, which included dowry deaths 527, murder 235, rape 277, molestation 11, dowry harassment 963, sexual harassment 131, bigamy 110, desertion of wives 267 and other types of harassment 2,747.
They also told that they have to have extra care from the birth of the girl child till they are married and later life as well becouse of increasing insecurity in the society. They revealed that when a girl is born, there is atmosphere of ‘Mattam’ and when boy is born this is celebrated by beating a ‘thali’ and distribution of sweets.Tradition of 6th day celebration on birth of a boy ‘Chhath’ is there. A mother who give birth to a boy is given 10 kg of ghee and the mother giving birth to a girl is given 5 kg in the villages. When asked whether they celebrate the ‘Namkaran Sanskar’ of girls, all of them answered in negative. Similarly many traditional discriminatory points came in to discussion. (list is very long) confirming again
cotn---