AIDWA against proposed changes

At a discussion at UP Press club, organised by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), in memory of Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, Farzana (name changed) shared the ordeal that she had to face after her daughter’s birth.

“After the baby’s birth, my inlaws demanded ` 2 lakh from my parents as the baby’s dowry. The resentment in the family was so great that the baby was thrown on the floor with an intention to kill her,” she said.

Dr Neelam Singh of Vatsalya, who has been working on the issue for years, said that a number of doctors and other influential citizens were against the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994. “Lack of political will is another barrier to the strict implementation of the Act,” she added. “In a state like UP, only 140 cases have been registered under the Act and the numbers is far lower in Lucknow. So far, only eight cases have been registered here,” informed Dr Singh.

Madhu Garg, state president AIDWA, said that her organisation strongly condemned the changes proposed in the PCPNDT Act. “The new proposal will only result in 24-hr surveillance of pregnant women – both from the family and by the state authorities. It will also fuel proliferation of illegal facilities for getting rid of unwanted female foetuses. It is clearly motivated by those who are facing criminal proceedings under the PCPNDT Act” she said.

Earlier this year, union woman and child development minister, Maneka Gandhi had suggested that child sex determination during pregnancy be made compulsory, the gender of the child registered right from that moment and the birth of the baby be tracked.