The Unborn Daughters of Delhi
Contents: Preface. I. Introduction: 1. The conceptual framework. 2. Methodology. 3. The context. II. Presentation of field data and analysis: 1. Analysis of hospital records. 2. Analysis of household schedules. 3. Responses of doctors. 4. Responses of ANMs, LHVs and Dais. 5. Responses of adolescent girls and young women. 6. Responses of adolescent boys. III. 1. Summary of findings and conclusion. Select bibliography.
"Delhi shares the ignominy of destroying daughters in the womb with other well off north western states which is symptomatic of the larger malaise of the low status accorded to women and the denial of their right to life, the right to be born to females in this region. The book, based on empirical research, is a sensitive exploration in to the malaise of sex selective abortions and relative neglect of female children during early years leading to further decline in child sex ratio. Delhi is typical of an anachronism of the educated and well off sections perpetuating the cruel tradition of female infanticide revisiting India in a new veiled form.
The crime of female feticide continues unabated despite an act to ban the misuse of pre-diagnostic techniques and sex selective abortions. It is tragic to see women becoming a party to the destruction of their own species, as they are unable to break out of the vicious cycle of under valuation by others and by themselves. Women crave for the birth of a son who they continue to see as their saviour in an environment that is hostile to females. The civil society needs to mount an offensive against female feticide and deteriorating health and dignity of women who are under constant pressure to ABORT-RETRY-ABORT to beget a SON. The hope lies in mobilizing the adolescent and the youth to protect their own future.
In a world so very concerned about the conservation of biodiversity, it is strange that millions of females disappearing each year have yet not caught worldwide attention. The human development reports are silent on this active and passive violence against women, their natural and unnatural killing and dissemination." (jacket)
