Will abandoned girls get what they truly deserve?
Oct 2, 2011 | Satish SinghThe Census reports do reveal some nasty figures about the dwindling sex ratio in the capital. Despite of having many government run organizations, will abandoned girls get what they truly deserve?
FINDINGS OF provisional census are depressing for Delhi Government. As per report, sex ratio in the national capital has worsened in last ten years. It is a matter of great concern indeed for Delhi Government as well as Central Government.
Sex ratio up to six years in national capital is 866 girls out of 1000 boys. This figure has come down from census taken in 2001. It was 868 girls in last census. Most shocking aspect of this census is worst ratio in South Delhi, whereas in this area so called well cultured & educated upper middle class reside.
The provisional statistics was released at national level in the month of April. Sex ratio of whole nation is 914. It shows that sex ratio in national capital is less than the national average.
Conclusion of census in Delhi is glare example of nastiest stipulation of women across the nation. In medieval times, eminent poet Tulsidas once said "Shudra, Pashu aur Nari sabhi hain taran ke adhikari”, which means women are always means of denigration. In the 21st century too, our ideas are not beyond this perception.
Killing of baby girls in our society is thriving unchecked now. Even unborn baby girl child is being killed uninterruptedly. However, our society instead of stopping the carnage has been trying to prove it right for a long time.
Doctors are also involved in slaughter of baby girls. However, doctors are not easy to catch. Our police information system is so weak that it does not hold any criminal doctors. If you take anydescription in grip, he will be set free and the case also gets dismissed. Despondently, the participation of government hospital’s doctors in such kind of heinous crime is appalling.
If baby girls survive, they will get harassed in different echelons of their life either by parents or by in-laws. Sometime they are compelled to commit suicide or often killed by antisocial elements.
Recently, a report revealed that unwanted girl children are being sheltered in Government Hospitals of Delhi. It is extremely different case from female foeticide. Moreover, we cannot say that it is linked to the interest of borne girls. The adoption of superfluous girl children by Government Hospitals particularly in Delhi is not the first case. Earlier too, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had sent notice to Bara Hindu and Kalawati Saran hospital in similar cases.
Parents are also not enthusiastic to keep their daughters with them; often give them to Government Hospitals these days. Involvement of Lady Hardinge Medical College and Lok Nayak hospital has been disclosed lately. So far two female children in each hospital have been adopted by said hospitals. According to sources, the baby girls’ parents have abandoned their rights over the girls and the doctors have signed the application as a witness.
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has taken this issue with such hospitals and also has lodged its strong objections. The CWC\’s president Raj Mangal Prasad opines that government hospitals have no right to give protection to forsaken children. There may be legal issues along with life of deserted children may also not be secured there.
Children and adolescents may be adopted as per prevailing adoption rules. As said by law pertaining to the 2009 adoption of children, natural/ legal parents of children may give up their rights through a certain process that must be based on rules and regulation of the nation. Under the section 33 (4) of child adoption act, parents willing to forgo their children should contact CWC first, so that legal procedure may be completed in proper way.
The CWC with the help of consultants is trying to induce the parents with reference to critical aspects of sacrifice of children. In case of adamant approach of fathers, the CWC persuades them to execute the form 15 in non judicial stamp paper before concerned officials. The CWC also gives them additional time of two months, So that they can reconsider over their decision.
The question of discarding the redundant female children by custodians or openly violating the laws by Government Hospitals is not so significant in this regard. Here an important question is how long will this continue to be discriminated against the girls or women?
Obviously, the girls over to the hands of Government or Non-Governmental organizations are not safe at all. These institutions are not interested in building their lives. According to a report, almost 250 girls have been abducted from their homes in Delhi within a month. This number is of those girls, whose parents lodged complain in police station. You can just imagine number of cases where girls have been kidnapped and their testimony is not reported anywhere.
Definitely, the sensitivity of today\’s society has been lost. Imbalance in gender equity is not enough to open the eyes of our patriarchal society. Interestingly, girls in changed role forget their anguish & behave in same manner as their mother in laws did in earlier. Cheer Haran of Draupadi is also common phenomenon at the moment. There is therefore great need to reincarnation of Lord Krishna in Kalyug.
(Mr. Satish Singh is a State Bank of India, Delhi, employee and a freelance writer. He has a diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.)