Sex_Selection-Ethical Issues : Prof. Vibhuti Patel

Sex Selection and Pre Birth Elimination of Girls Ethical Issues: 

Sex Selection and Pre Birth Elimination of Girls Ethical Issues 1 Dr. Vibhuti Patel, Director, PGSR Professor and Head, University Department of Economics SNDT Women’s University Churchgate, Mumbai-400020 Email: vibhuti.np@gmail.com Phone-91-022-26770227, Mobile-9321040048

The deadly Combo: 

The deadly Combo Increasing prosperity, desire for smaller families and son preference + Lack of professional ethics/regulation and blatant misuse of technology by medical professionals + Development of advanced non-intrusive pre-natal sex determination techniques Affordability and easy availability of the techniques Aggressive marketing of the machines/kits by multinational companies in prosperous areas with demand for such services World Wide Web making advertising and marketing easy across nations 2

Figures and Facts Speak …: 

Figures and Facts Speak … States and Union territories that have shown large declines between 1991 and 2001 are: Punjab -82 875 to 793 Haryana -59 879 - 820 HP -54 951 - 897 Chandigarh -54 899 - 845 Gujarat -50 928 - 878 Delhi -50 915 - 865 Maharashtra -29 946 - 917 Mumbai District -20 942 - 922 Mumbai Suburbs -7 930 - 923 Mumbai City 898 Worst districts in Maharashtra: Sangli -73 924 - 851 Kolhapur -92 931 - 839, Jalgaon -45 925 - 880, Satara -63 941 - 878 Aurangabad -43 933 - 890 Ahmadnagar -65 949 - 884 Solapur -40 935 - 895 Bid -45 939 – 894 There are 122 districts spread over 14 states having CSR less than 900 3

The Bloodbath: Child Sex ratio 1991-2001: 

The Bloodbath: Child Sex ratio 1991-2001 4

The Ways and Means of Elimination … : 

The Ways and Means of Elimination … Amniocentesis : Introduced in 1970s. Currently Amniocentesis is not being used for Sex Determination as a more convenient and non-intrusive technique i.e. sonography is available Ultrasound Techniques : Introduced in 80’s, wide spread use in 90’s Pre-conception sex selection technologies made available in 90s and are easily available currently New sex selection kits are also being promoted on internet 5

Slide 6: 

Machines make the difference …. 6

Girls are not welcome …: 

If first child is a girl, sex ratio of second order birth is 759 girls per 1000 boys But if the first child is a male no significant difference is observed in the sex ratio at birth for the second child In case of the third child if previous birth has been one male and one female – Sex ratio is 907 However the sex ratio drops to 718 if both previous births were females (Source: Special Fertility and Mortality Survey – Sample Registration System –registration General Of India, 2005) Girls are not welcome … 7

Why less numbers do not mean more power? : 

Why less numbers do not mean more power? In a social context where patriarchal values hold strong, and where a woman does not have control over her sexuality, reproduction and body integrity, reducing numbers further increase her dependence on men and aggravate violence against her Shortage of women in Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and other states has escalated incidents of forced abduction and kidnap of girls, trafficking for marriage, sex slavery, flesh trade, bride bazaars, forced polyandry ( Panchali system, Modern Draupadis ), swap marriages (Aata -Saata), sale of wives, gang rape and child-prostitution 8

A crime that that seldom gets reported… : 

A crime that that seldom gets reported … 9 lac girls missing every year This works out to at least 27 lac crimes related to sex determination and sex selective abortions As of 2008 there are 38 court cases in Maharashtra and 454 cases all over India So far there are less than 10 convictions for the crime of flouting the PCPNDT Act, 2002 and sex selection No doctor’s registration is cancelled so far by MCI for indulging in the practice of sex determination and sex selection 9

How Bleak is the Future…? : 

How Bleak is the Future…? Till 2011 – 10 lac girls would be eliminated per year through sex determination and sex selection. After 2011 the ratios drop further if the practice goes unchecked In the decade 2011-2021, at least 100 lac girls would be missing The sex ratio would drop drastically in 2021 if we do not take action Public Interest Litigations by supporters and opponents of sex selection 10

Time is running out …: 

Time is running out … Treat falling sex ratio as a national emergency Tighten compliance of clinics/medical community with the PCPNDT Act through effective monitoring and supervision Reconstitute monitoring and supervisory boards, minimizing political nominations / postings Stop political interference in the implementation of the law 11

Slide 12: 

Child Sex Ratio of Mumbai District: 898 (CSR) Overall Sex Ratio Mumbai Matropolis-942 Mumbai suburban - 930 Navi Mumbai - 926 (in different wards ratios vary between 860 to 920) The lowest CSR in Ward A, Colaba & Cuffe Parade- 860 Ward B, P. D’mello Road- 869 CSR of Westen suburbs- 924, Central suburbs- 953 Use of Ultrasonography in Mumbai % of all pregnancy 1986-90 21.4 1990-95 33.5 1996-2000 52.2 12

According to BMC: 

According to BMC There were births of total 179861 babies; out of which 93702 male and 86159 female babies in 2006.Thus the child sex ratio at birth of Mumbai was 919.5 girls for 1000 boys during 2006. Deficit of 80.05 girls per every 1000 boys born can be attributed to pre-birth elimination of girls. Ward-wise data of BMC on child sex ratios in different wards of Mumbai reveal that in different wards the ratios vary between 860 & 920. The lowest CSRs are found to be in Ward A, Colaba & Cuffe Parade- 860 and Ward B, P. D’mello Road- 869. CSR of Western suburbs with has been 924 and of Central suburbs is 953; both have predominantly middle and working class population. 13

Socio-cultural Background of Son Preference and Neglect of Daughters: 

Socio-cultural Background of Son Preference and Neglect of Daughters Educated families : small family norm means minimum one or two sons in the family. They can do without daughter. The propertied class do not desire daughter/ daughters because after marriage of the daughter, the son-in-law may demand share in property. Experiences of Larsen & Tuberow Workers during the 1980s. Young educated, technically trained workers wanted 1 0r 2 children, but only boys. They perceived daughters as hurdle for upward mobility. Among Gujaratis, son is treated as “Blank Cheque”. 14

Our demands: 

Our demands Concerted efforts must be made to halt declining child sex ratio by judicious implementation of PCPNDT Act, 2002 and stringent punishment to doctors and laboratory owners for abuse of sex determination and sex selection technologies. Treat falling sex ratio as a national emergency Tighten compliance of clinics/medical community with the PCPNDT Act through effective monitoring and supervision Reconstitute monitoring and supervisory boards, minimizing political nominations / postings Stop political interference in the implementation of the law 15

Thank you: 

Thank you Eliminate Inequality, not Women”. “Destroy Dowry, not Daughters”. Daughter is not for Slaughter Say “No” to Sex-determination, Say “Yes” to Empowerment of Women. Say “No” to Sex Discrimination, Say “Yes” to Gender Justice. 16