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Essay on Female Foeticide: Female foeticide is a serious problem where unborn baby girls are killed in the womb just because they are girls. In India, this cruel practice has caused a major gender imbalance. According to the 2011 Census, the child sex ratio in India dropped to just 914 girls for every 1000 boys, the lowest since independence. In states like Uttar Pradesh, it was even worse at 902 girls per 1000 boys.
A Pew Research Center study based on Union government data indicates the foeticide of at least 9 million females in India between 2000-2019. Even though there is a law, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, to stop this, female foeticide still happens in many areas. It is important for all of us to respect and protect the girl child for a balanced and fair society.
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Essay on Female Foeticide in 250 Words
Female foeticide refers to the practice of aborting a fetus because it is female. This deeply rooted issue continues to plague India, leading to a significant gender imbalance. Despite various laws and campaigns, the preference for male children over female ones remains prevalent in many parts of the country.
The primary reason behind female foeticide is the societal preference for sons. In many communities, sons are seen as carriers of the family name and are expected to take care of parents in their old age. Daughters, on the other hand, are also viewed as a financial burden due to the dowry system and the belief that they will eventually become part of another family.
The consequences of female foeticide are far-reaching. The 2011 Census reported a child sex ratio of 914 girls for every 1,000 boys, the lowest since independence. This imbalance leads to various social issues, including a shortage of brides in certain regions, increased human trafficking, and a rise in crimes against women.
To combat this issue, the Indian government enacted the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act in 1994. The law prohibits sex determination tests and the use of ultrasound for sex selection. Despite these legal measures, enforcement remains a challenge, and the practice continues in many areas.
Education plays a crucial role in changing societal attitudes. Awareness campaigns like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” aim to promote the value of the girl child and educate communities about the importance of gender equality. Schools and community programs can help in spreading this message and encouraging a shift in mindset.
Female foeticide is a grave violation of human rights and a reflection of deep-seated gender biases. While laws and campaigns have made some impact, a more profound change in societal attitudes is necessary. By educating communities and promoting the value of the girl child, India can hope to eradicate this practice and move towards a more balanced and just society.
Also Read: Speech On National Girl Child Day for Children in English
Essay on Female Foeticide in 1000 Words
In many parts of India, when a baby girl is born, instead of happiness, there is also sadness or disappointment. This sad attitude towards girl children has led to a serious problem called female foeticide. Female foeticide means ending the life of a baby girl before she is born, simply because she is a girl. This practice is not only unfair and wrong, but it also breaks many laws and human rights. Female foeticide harms society by disturbing the natural balance between the number of boys and girls born. In this essay, we will understand why female foeticide happens, what its effects are, what the government is doing about it, and how we can all help to stop it.
Why Does Female Foeticide Happen?
The main reason behind female foeticide is the preference for sons over daughters. This preference has been a part of Indian culture for a long time. In many families, sons are believed to be more valuable because they carry the family name forward and take care of their parents in old age. On the other hand, daughters are also seen as a burden because of traditions like the dowry system. Dowry means money, gifts, or property given by the bride’s family to the groom’s family when a daughter gets married. This practice can be very expensive and stressful for many families, making them feel that having a daughter is a financial problem.
Many people also think that daughters will leave their parents’ home after marriage and live with their husband’s family. This leads to the wrong belief that daughters are not a part of their own family forever, so they are less important. These cultural and social ideas are very strong in many parts of India and cause people to choose to abort a baby girl even before she is born.
What Does the Data Say?
The numbers tell us a lot about how serious this problem is. According to the 2011 Census of India, the child sex ratio (the number of girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of six) was only 914 girls per 1,000 boys. This was the lowest the ratio had ever been since India became independent in 1947. A balanced sex ratio should be close to 950 to 975 girls per 1,000 boys.
More recent surveys, like the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted in 2019-21, show that while there has been some improvement in certain states, many areas still have a very low sex ratio at birth. In some states such as Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, the ratio can be as low as 850 to 880 girls per 1,000 boys. This means fewer girls are being born compared to boys in these regions.
Over the last 20 years, it is estimated that around 9 million girls have gone “missing” because of sex-selective abortions. This means millions of girls who should have been born were not allowed to live simply because of their gender.
What Happens When There Are Fewer Girls?
When there are fewer girls in a community or region, many social problems start to appear. First, there will be a shortage of women for marriage. This leads to a situation where some men may never find a bride, causing sadness and loneliness. This imbalance also increases illegal activities like human trafficking and forced marriages, where women are bought and sold against their will.
With fewer women around, violence against women and crimes like harassment and abuse tend to increase. The social balance is disturbed, causing unrest and fear in communities. These problems affect not only women but also the whole society.
What Is the Government Doing?
The Indian government understands the seriousness of female foeticide and has taken several steps to stop it.
- PCPNDT Act, 1994: The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act was passed to stop doctors and clinics from using ultrasound and other tests to find out the sex of a baby before birth. If the sex is found to be female, some families may choose to abort the baby illegally. The PCPNDT Act makes it illegal to conduct or advertise such tests for sex determination.
- Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter): Launched in 2015, this campaign aims to change people’s thinking about girls. It encourages families to value their daughters, educate them, and support their growth. The campaign also works to improve the child sex ratio in areas where it is very low.
- Awareness and Education: The government and many non-government organizations (NGOs) run awareness programs to teach people about the importance of girls. Schools, community groups, and media are involved in spreading the message of gender equality.
Challenges Still Remain
Despite these efforts, female foeticide has not stopped completely. There are many reasons for this:
- Weak enforcement: Sometimes the law is not enforced strictly, and illegal sex determination clinics still operate.
- Social pressure: Families face pressure from relatives or society to have a son.
- Economic factors: The cost of dowry and financial insecurity still makes families prefer sons.
- Lack of education: Many people are still unaware of the laws and the harmful effects of female foeticide.
How Can We Stop Female Foeticide?
Stopping female foeticide needs the effort of everyone in society:
- Education: Teaching both boys and girls about the importance of gender equality from a young age helps change mindsets.
- Community involvement: Local leaders, teachers, and parents should work together to support girls.
- Empowering women: When girls are given opportunities to study and work, they become strong contributors to society.
- Strict law enforcement: Authorities must ensure that laws like the PCPNDT Act are followed, and those breaking the law are punished.
- Promoting equal values: Families should be encouraged to love and value daughters just like sons.
Conclusion
Female foeticide is a sad and serious problem that causes harm to individuals, families, and society as a whole. It is unfair to take away the life of a girl child simply because she is not a boy. India has made some progress in fighting this issue, but there is still a long way to go.
By working together, educating people, and valuing daughters equally, India can build a future where every girl child is welcomed with love and respect. When girls are given equal opportunities, they grow into women who can help improve the country in many ways. It is the responsibility of every citizen to say no to female foeticide and create a society where girls and boys have the same rights and chances to succeed.
Also Read: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Essay in English
10 Important Lines on Female Foeticide
Here are 10 important lines for an essay on female foeticide:
- Female foeticide means ending the life of a baby girl before she is born because of her gender.
- In India, many families prefer sons over daughters due to cultural and financial reasons.
- The child sex ratio in India was 914 girls per 1,000 boys according to the 2011 Census.
- Some states like Haryana and Punjab have an even lower ratio of about 850 girls per 1,000 boys.
- About 9 million girls are estimated to be “missing” in India due to female foeticide in the last 20 years.
- The government passed the PCPNDT Act in 1994 to stop illegal sex determination tests.
- The “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign encourages families to value and educate their daughters.
- Female foeticide leads to social problems like fewer girls for marriage and increased crimes against women.
- Changing mindsets and educating people is very important to stop female foeticide.
- Every girl child has the right to live, grow, and contribute to society equally like boys.
Also Read: Essay on Women Empowerment
FAQs
To write an essay on female foeticide in simple words, first start with an introduction that explains what female foeticide means and why it is a serious problem. Next, talk about the reasons why people prefer sons over daughters, like cultural beliefs and financial concerns. Then, include some important facts and numbers to show how big the problem is. After that, explain the effects of female foeticide on society, such as the imbalance between boys and girls and its consequences. Also, mention what the government and people are doing to stop this practice. Finally, end with a conclusion that says why it is important to value girls equally and stop female foeticide for a better future. Always use simple language and clear ideas so everyone can understand.
Foeticide means ending the life of a baby while it is still inside the mother’s womb, before birth. It usually happens when someone decides to stop the pregnancy on purpose, also by using medical methods. Female foeticide specifically means ending the life of a baby girl before she is born because of her gender. This is a very serious and illegal practice that harms families and society.
Abortion and foeticide both mean ending a pregnancy, but they are different in some ways. Abortion is when a pregnancy is ended either because the mother’s health is at risk or because she chooses not to continue the pregnancy. It can happen for many reasons and is sometimes allowed by law. Foeticide means killing the baby inside the womb on purpose, also illegally, especially when it is done because of the baby’s gender, like in female foeticide. So, abortion can be legal and for different reasons, but foeticide is usually illegal and done for unfair reasons like gender bias.
The government of India has started several important schemes to stop female foeticide and support girl children. One of the biggest programs is Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, launched in 2015, which works to prevent sex-selective abortions, raise awareness about the value of girls, and encourage their education and protection. Along with this, the PCPNDT Act strictly bans prenatal sex determination tests to stop illegal abortions based on gender. Another helpful scheme is Laadli Laxmi Yojana, which provides financial support and incentives to families in some states to encourage the education and marriage of girls at the right age, making families value their daughters more. Together, these schemes aim to change mindsets, protect girls, and build a better future where every girl is loved and respected.
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