Female foeticide in India

Female foeticide in India is the abortion of a female foetus outside of legal methods. A research by Pew Research Center based on Union government data indicates foeticide of at least 9 million females in the years 2000–2019. The research found that 86.7% of these foeticides were by Hindus (80% of the population), followed by Sikhs (1.7% of the population) with 4.9%, and Muslims (14% of the population) with 6.6%. The research also indicated an overall decline in preference for sons in the time period.^[1]

The natural sex ratio is assumed to be between 103 and 107 males per 100 females, and any number above it is considered suggestive of female foeticide. According to the decennial Indian census, the sex ratio in 0 to 6 age group in India has risen from 102.4 males per 100 females in 1961,^[2] to 104.2 in 1980, to 107.5 in 2001, to 108.9 in 2011.^[3]

The child sex ratio is within the normal range in all eastern and southern states of India,^[4] but significantly higher in certain western and particularly northwestern states such as Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir (118, 120 and 116, as of 2011, respectively).^[5] The western states of Maharashtra and Rajasthan 2011 census found a child sex ratio of 113, Gujarat at 112 and Uttar Pradesh at 111.^[6] The higher ratios in Maharashtra and Gujrat can also be attributed to an influx of male migration into the region.

The Indian census data indicates that the sex ratio is poor when women have one or two children, but gets better as they have more children, which is result of sex-selective "stopping practices" (stopping having children based on sex of those born).^[7] The Indian census data also suggests there is a positive correlation between abnormal sex ratio and better socio-economic status and literacy. This may be connected to the dowry system in India where dowry deaths occur when a girl is seen as a financial burden. Urban India has higher child sex ratio than rural India according to 1991, 2001 and 2011 Census data, implying higher prevalence of female foeticide in urban India. Similarly, child sex ratio greater than 115 boys per 100 girls is found in regions where the predominant majority is Hindu; furthermore "normal" child sex ratio of 104 to 106 boys per 100 girls are found in regions where the predominant majority is Muslim, Sikh or Christian. These data suggest that sex selection is a practice which takes place among some educated, rich sections or a particular religion of the Indian society.^[5]^[8]

There is an ongoing debate as to whether these high sex ratios are only caused by female foeticide or some of the higher ratio is explained by natural causes.^[9] The Indian government has passed Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT) in 1994 to ban and punish prenatal sex screening and female foeticide. It is currently illegal in India to determine or disclose sex of the foetus to anyone. However, there are concerns that PCPNDT Act has been poorly enforced by authorities.^[10]

^ Kaur, Banjot (2022-09-06). "Foeticide: More 'Missing' Girls Among Hindus Than Muslims in Last Two Decades, Official Data Shows". The Wire. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
^ Data Highlights - 2001 Census Census Bureau, Government of India
^ India at Glance - Population Census 2011 - Final Census of India, Government of India (2013)
^ Census of India 2011: Child sex ratio drops to lowest since Independence The Economic Times, India
^ ^a ^b Child Sex Ratio in India Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine C Chandramouli, Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (2011)
^ Child Sex Ratio 2001 versus 2011 Census of India, Government of India (2013)
^ "Sex ratio worsens in small families, improves with 3 or more children | India News". The Times of India. 15 February 2016.
^ Cite error: The named reference wbhindia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ James W.H. (July 2008). "Hypothesis:Evidence that Mammalian Sex Ratios at birth are partially controlled by parental hormonal levels around the time of conception". Journal of Endocrinology. 198 (1): 3–15. doi:10.1677/JOE-07-0446. PMID 18577567.
^ "UNICEF India". UNICEF. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2012-05-06.

[1] Kaur, Banjot (2022-09-06). "Foeticide: More 'Missing' Girls Among Hindus Than Muslims in Last Two Decades, Official Data Shows". The Wire. Retrieved 2022-09-06.

[2] Data Highlights - 2001 Census Census Bureau, Government of India

[c2011-3] India at Glance - Population Census 2011 - Final Census of India, Government of India (2013)

[tec2011-4] Census of India 2011: Child sex ratio drops to lowest since Independence The Economic Times, India

[cc2011-5] Child Sex Ratio in India Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine C Chandramouli, Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (2011)

[ci20012011-6] Child Sex Ratio 2001 versus 2011 Census of India, Government of India (2013)

[7] "Sex ratio worsens in small families, improves with 3 or more children | India News". The Times of India. 15 February 2016.

[wbhindia-8] Cite error: The named reference wbhindia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[James-JournalofEndocrinology-9] James W.H. (July 2008). "Hypothesis:Evidence that Mammalian Sex Ratios at birth are partially controlled by parental hormonal levels around the time of conception". Journal of Endocrinology. 198 (1): 3–15. doi:10.1677/JOE-07-0446. PMID 18577567.

[UNICEF_India-10] "UNICEF India". UNICEF. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2012-05-06.

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