{"id":102734,"date":"2026-05-09T17:47:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T12:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=102734"},"modified":"2026-05-09T17:47:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T12:17:11","slug":"female-infanticide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/female-infanticide\/","title":{"rendered":"Female Infanticide, Meaning, History, Causes, Laws &#038; Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Female Infanticide is the <\/span><b>practice of intentionally ending the life of a newborn girl child.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is a serious social issue rooted in <\/span><b>gender discrimination,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where boys are often valued more than girls. This mindset comes from factors like traditional beliefs, economic pressures, and social norms. Although laws and awareness have improved over time, it still reflects the need for greater respect, equality, and protection for the girl child in society.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Meaning and Definition of Female Infanticide<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Female Infanticide refers to the <\/span><b>deliberate killing of a newborn girl child, usually soon after birth, only because she is female, which is unjust and inhumane.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is a harmful practice that denies a child the basic right to life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This act mainly happens due to a <\/span><b>strong preference for male children, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">where boys are often seen as more valuable for social, cultural, or economic reasons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It reflects <\/span><b>deep-rooted gender inequality,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where girls may be viewed as a burden because of factors like dowry, family expectations, or limited economic opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is considered a serious social evil and a violation of human rights, as every child has the right to live, grow, and be treated equally.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The practice is often influenced by traditional beliefs, poverty, lack of education, and social pressure, especially in areas where gender bias is strong.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Female Infanticide Historical Background and Prevalence<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Female Infanticide has deep historical roots in India, <\/span><b>especially in regions where there was a strong preference for male children<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to social and cultural reasons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the <\/span><b>pre-colonial period,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the practice was reported among certain communities, <\/span><b>mainly due to concerns about dowry and family honour.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the <\/span><b>colonial period,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the British recognized the issue and introduced laws such as the <\/span><b>Female Infanticide Prevention Act, 1870<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to control it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After independence, <\/span><b>India adopted constitutional provisions (Articles 14 &amp; 15)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> promoting equality and introduced various laws to protect women and children.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite legal efforts, the problem continued due to deep-rooted patriarchy, social norms, and economic pressures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, the impact of such practices has been reflected in India\u2019s demographic trends. <\/span><b>The sex ratio declined from 972 females per 1000 males in 1901 to 933 in 2001, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">showing long-term gender imbalance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/census-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Census 2011<\/b><\/a><b>, the sex ratio slightly improved to 943 females per 1000 males,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but inequality still persists.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent data <\/span><b>(NFHS-5, 2019-21)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows improvement in the overall sex ratio to about <\/span><b>1020 females per 1000 males,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but the <\/span><b>sex ratio at birth remains low (around 929),<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> highlighting ongoing bias.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>UNFPA (2020)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> report estimates that around <\/span><b>45.8 million girls are \u201cmissing\u201d in India <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">due to gender-based discrimination before and after birth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The issue has been more prevalent in states like <\/span><b>Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and parts of Tamil Nadu, where patriarchal norms are stronger.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, Female Infanticide has partly shifted to female foeticide (sex-selective abortion) due to misuse of modern technology.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Causes of Female Infanticide<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Socio-Cultural Factors<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Preference for Sons:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In many families, sons are preferred as they are seen as carriers of family name, lineage, and traditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Patriarchal System: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society is largely male-dominated, where women have a lower status.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Social Beliefs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Daughters are often considered <\/span><b>\u201cparaya dhan\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, meaning they will leave the family after marriage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Religious Practices:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In some traditions, sons are believed to be necessary for performing last rites, increasing their importance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Economic Factors<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Dowry System:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Even though banned under the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/dowry-prohibition-act-1961\/\" target=\"_blank\">Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961<\/a>,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dowry still creates a financial burden on families with daughters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Perceived Liability: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Girls are often seen as economic liabilities, especially in poor households.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Old Age Support: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sons are expected to take care of parents financially, while daughters are not.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poverty: Financial hardship makes families think that raising daughters is costly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Educational and Awareness Factors<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Low Literacy Levels:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Lack of education leads to continuation of traditional gender bias.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Lack of Awareness: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people are unaware of legal rights and gender equality principles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Discrimination in Resources:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Girls often receive less access to education, healthcare, and nutrition.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Technological Factors<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Misuse of Medical Technology: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technologies like ultrasound are illegally used for sex determination before birth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Female Foeticide Link:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This has shifted discrimination from after birth (infanticide) to before birth (foeticide).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Weak Regulation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Poor enforcement of laws like the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pcpndt-act\/\" target=\"_blank\">PCPNDT Act<\/a>, <\/b>1994<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allows such practices to continue in some areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Social Pressure and Safety Concerns<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Family Pressure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Women often face pressure to give birth to a male child.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Fear of Violence: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns about harassment, trafficking, and safety of girls affect attitudes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Neglect of Girls:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Some families fear that daughters may face discrimination and hardship, leading to negative decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Structural Inequalities<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Limited Opportunities for Women:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Fewer job and economic opportunities reduce the perceived value of girls.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Inheritance Issues:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In practice, daughters are often denied equal property rights despite legal provisions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Deep Social Conditioning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Gender bias is passed from one generation to another, making change slow.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Female Infanticide Legal Framework<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Constitutional Provisions<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution of India lays the foundation for gender equality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/article-14-of-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Article 14<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ensures equality before law for both men and women.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/article-15-of-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Article 15<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and allows the state to make special provisions for women and children.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/article-21-of-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Article 21<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> guarantees the right to life and dignity, which applies equally to every girl child.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These provisions show that protecting girls is not just a social need but also a constitutional responsibility.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/dowry-prohibition-act-1961\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961<\/b><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This law bans the giving and taking of dowry, which is one of the major reasons behind the preference for sons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It aims to reduce the idea that daughters are a financial burden on families.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, due to social acceptance of dowry in some areas, proper implementation remains a challenge.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pcpndt-act\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>PCPNDT Act, 1994<\/b><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><b>The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prohibits sex selection before and after conception.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It regulates the use of technologies like ultrasound, preventing their misuse for identifying the sex of the fetus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strict penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and cancellation of medical licenses, are provided for violations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This law plays a key role in controlling female foeticide, which is closely linked to Female Infanticide.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/medical-termination-of-pregnancy-act\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971<\/b><\/a><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This Act allows abortion under certain conditions but strictly prohibits abortion based on the sex of the child. It ensures that medical facilities are not misused for gender-based discrimination.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Government Initiatives to Eradicate Female Infanticide<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/beti-bachao-beti-padhao\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao<\/b><\/a><b> (BBBP):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launched with initial funding of \u20b9100 crore, this scheme is a national initiative to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of Education.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main aim is to improve the survival, protection, and education of the girl child throughout her life cycle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It focuses on multi-sector action in 100 selected districts with low child sex ratio.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scheme spreads awareness about the importance of the girl child and works to improve welfare services for girls.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also supports efforts to prevent female infanticide and discrimination against girls.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local education authorities are required to ensure that girls receive free elementary education and equal opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ssy\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana<\/b><\/a><b>:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a small savings scheme launched under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign to support the financial future of the girl child.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It encourages parents to save money for their daughter\u2019s education and marriage expenses in a secure manner.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The account can be opened for a girl child below the age of 10 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A minimum deposit of \u20b91,000 is required to start the account, and it can go up to \u20b91.5 lakh per year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The account remains active for 14 years, helping long-term savings for the child\u2019s future needs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also offers tax benefits and attractive interest rates, making it a secure and beneficial investment for families.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/mission-vatsalya\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Mission Vatsalya<\/b><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This scheme is designed to protect and support children who are in difficult situations, such as abandoned, orphaned, or neglected girls.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is implemented through Child Care Institutions (CCIs), Child Welfare Committees, and Special Adoption Agencies. These institutions ensure that children, especially girls, get a safe, caring, and protective environment where they can grow properly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pm-matru-vandana-yojana\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana<\/b><\/a><b> (PMMVY)<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This scheme provides financial support to pregnant and lactating women to improve health and nutrition, while also promoting a positive attitude towards the girl child under Mission Shakti (PMMVY 2.0).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cash assistance of \u20b96,000 is given to eligible women, especially when the second child born is a girl. This helps reduce the preference for sons and encourages better care for girls.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Conditional Cash Transfer Schemes (e.g., Ladli Yojana):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These schemes provide financial incentives to families for raising and educating girl children, helping to change attitudes at the grassroots level.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NGOs like <\/span><b>Save the Girl Child<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Nanhi Kali<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> work towards spreading awareness, supporting education, and promoting gender equality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They run community outreach programs, especially in rural areas, to educate people and change traditional mindsets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NGOs also act as a bridge between the government and local communities, ensuring better implementation of policies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Public Awareness Campaigns<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Media campaigns, advertisements, and social messages play an important role in challenging gender stereotypes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They promote the idea that girls are equally valuable as boys.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local leaders, teachers, and influencers also help in spreading awareness and discouraging discriminatory practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Female Infanticide Impact<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Female Infanticide impact on Society and Demographic Imbalances have been discussed below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Skewed Sex Ratio and Marriage Imbalance<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Female Infanticide leads to a declining number of females, resulting in a skewed sex ratio.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>As per Census 2011,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India\u2019s sex ratio was around <\/span><b>940 females per 1000 males,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with states like Haryana and Punjab showing severe imbalance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This creates a <\/span><b>shortage of women for marriage,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> leading to delayed marriages, forced marriages, and practices like polyandry.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such imbalance <\/span><b>disturbs the natural population structure and family system.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Rise in Crimes, Trafficking and Exploitation<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lower number of women increases crimes such as <\/span><b>kidnapping, trafficking, and exploitation.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women are often treated as commodities, especially in regions with severe gender imbalance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The shortage of brides leads to <\/span><b>trafficking of girls for marriage and forced labour, violating their basic rights.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This results in a cycle of abuse and gender-based violence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Psychological, Social and Cultural Impact<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>On Mothers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Women face pressure to give birth to sons or abort female fetuses, causing emotional trauma and mental stress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>On Families:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Families may experience guilt, social pressure, and emotional imbalance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the societal level, it leads to a decline in respect for women and weakening of moral values.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, gender discrimination becomes socially accepted, affecting future generations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Economic Impact and Social Instability<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A reduced female population lowers women\u2019s participation in the workforce, affecting economic productivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gender imbalance hampers inclusive growth and overall development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A large number of unmarried men can lead to frustration, aggression, and social unrest, increasing crime rates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This ultimately disturbs the peace, stability, and balanced development of society.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Difference between Female Infanticide and Foeticide<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Female Foeticide:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It refers to the selective termination of a female fetus before birth, after illegally determining its sex through prenatal diagnostic techniques like ultrasound. It is done to avoid the birth of a girl child and is closely linked to misuse of medical technology.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Female Infanticide:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It refers to the intentional killing of a girl child after she is born, usually influenced by deep-rooted social pressures, poverty, dowry concerns, and strong preference for male children.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Female Infanticide\u00a0 Eradication Challenges<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Deep-rooted son preference:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In many parts of society, sons are still preferred due to beliefs that they carry forward the family name and provide support in old age. This long-standing mindset makes it difficult to change attitudes towards the girl child.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Patriarchal social structure: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society is still largely male-dominated, where women are often given a secondary status. This unequal power structure normalises discrimination against girls.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dowry system:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Despite being legally banned, dowry practices continue in several areas. This creates a perception that daughters are a financial burden, discouraging their acceptance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weak implementation of laws:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Although strict laws like PCPNDT Act exist, poor monitoring, corruption, and lack of awareness reduce their effectiveness, especially in rural regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Misuse of medical technology:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Advanced technologies like ultrasound are sometimes misused for illegal sex determination, leading to female foeticide and reinforcing gender bias.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low literacy and awareness:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Limited education in certain areas results in lack of understanding about gender equality, legal rights, and the importance of the girl child.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic constraints:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Poor families often believe that raising a son is economically beneficial, while daughters are seen as a financial burden due to marriage-related expenses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Social acceptance of discrimination:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In some communities, gender bias is socially accepted and even encouraged, making behavioural change slow and difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Slow mindset transformation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Even with government campaigns and awareness programs, changing deep-rooted cultural beliefs takes time and consistent effort.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Measures and Way Forward<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthening law enforcement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strict implementation of laws like the PCPNDT Act, 1994 and Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 is essential to prevent misuse and ensure punishment for offenders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promoting gender equality education:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Schools and colleges should teach the importance of equal rights for boys and girls, helping to change social attitudes from an early age.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Awareness campaigns:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Government and NGOs should run continuous campaigns to highlight the value of the girl child and remove harmful stereotypes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improving women\u2019s education:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Educating girls increases their independence and reduces discrimination, making them economically and socially empowered.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic support schemes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana should be expanded to reduce financial pressure on families.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strict control on misuse of technology:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Proper monitoring of ultrasound clinics and medical centres is needed to prevent illegal sex determination practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community participation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Local leaders, teachers, and community groups should actively promote respect for girls and discourage discriminatory practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Changing social mindset:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Long-term change is needed to remove son preference and patriarchal thinking through continuous social reform.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improving healthcare and nutrition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ensuring equal access to healthcare and nutrition for girls helps improve their survival and status in society.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Empowering women economically:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Increasing women\u2019s participation in jobs and decision-making strengthens their position in society and reduces discrimination.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Female Infanticide refers to killing newborn girls due to gender bias, son preference, dowry, patriarchy, inequality and social discrimination in India.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":102550,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[7448,5248,5249],"class_list":{"0":"post-102734","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-female-infanticide","9":"tag-indian-society","10":"tag-indian-society-notes","11":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102734"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102752,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102734\/revisions\/102752"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}