Representatives of various NGOs, women's organisations and officials expressed serious concern over the increasing female foeticides after pre-natal sex determination causing a steady drop in the child sex ratio in the state. They criticised the unethical doctors who are running the pre-natal diagnostic test centres at cheaper rates and curbing the birth of baby girls.
Speaking at a workshop on 'Sex Determination and Female Foeticide,' organised jointly by the Jana Vignana Vedika and the Indian Medical Association at Karimnagar, All-India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA) general secretary Brinda Karath called upon the people to fight against the evils that were suppressing women in the society.
Stating that the sex ratio (below six years) had been going down drastically for the past few years in the country, Karat said that lack of coordination and negligence among various government departments was contributing to the spread of female infanticides.
"It is the most educated people and intellectuals who are preferring only sons and believing that social status is linked with sons. In AP, Krishna, Chittoor and Rangareddy districts are crossing the danger marks by drastically downing the child sex ratio," she said.
"Even the Life Insurance Corporation is campaigning against girls and encouraging dowry system by asking the parents to join insurance to meet their daughters' marriage expenses and dowry. The introduction of the two-child norm by the government is also contributing to female foeticide," she said and asked the educationists in the country to bring about a change in the politics and fight against the dowry system.
Dr Sabu George, Researcher, Centre for Women Development Studies, gave a presentation on the dropping of child sex ratio in various states in the country. He blamed the doctors for practicing the sex selection silently.