M A I L B A G

Son fixation root cause of foeticide

The reason for the increasing cases of female foeticide is our son-fixation in the male dominated society. Daughters and sons should be treated equally as the former are in no way inferior than the latter. Examples galore, if daughters are given an opportunity to study and compete in examinations like the Civil Services, IIMs and IITs, they can excel.

It is not that earlier the girls were not capable of achieving distinction. It is just that they were not given adequate support and encouragement to prove their worth. The times have changed and daughters too can perform all the duties like sons. It is time rituals like lighting the pyre of parents and kith and kin were also done by women so that these do not remain the exclusive monopoly of men. Let’s help stop female foeticide. Let girls live and excel in every sphere of life.

POOJA GULATI, Ambala City

II

In her article, “Saving the girl child” (March 21), Dr Manmohan Kaur succinctly examines the precarious position of the girl child in Punjab. The situation is far worse in Haryana where there were 861 females (compared with 874 in Punjab) as against 1000 males (2001 census).

Though the sex ratio in the age group of 0-6 was slightly better at 819 per 1000 males as against 789 in Punjab, in some of districts of Haryana, the situation is alarming as the sex ratio (0-6) is 771 in Kurukshetra, 782 in Ambala, 788 in Sonepat, 791 in Kaithal and 799 in Rohtak.

To save the girl child, the Haryana government has announced the Ladli scheme. But the malaise lie somewhere else. The potent factor behind this situation lies in the matrimonial columns of newspapers where everybody wants a tall, slim, fair complexioned, convent educated and homely girl with modern outlook for their sons. This is more gruesome than the dowry.

Despite being qualified, a woman has to pass so many tests. She is humiliated at every step. Secondly, it is common knowledge that suitable match is not available for qualified girls these days.

PURAN SINGH, Rewari

III

The Tribune has been carrying articles by eminent writers on female foeticide. To curb this evil, I offer five suggestions. One, people must be educated on the usefulness of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act in checking female foeticide. Two, the government should allocate more funds in its annual budgets to propagate the cause of saving the girl child through print and electronic media on a large scale.

Three, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development should take the initiative to inculcate a few chapters/illustrative stories in the school syllabi to educate students about this evil. Four, the government should set up fast track courts to bring the guilty to book. Five, the PNDT Act should be amended with provisions for severe punishment. And finally, girls must be educated in schools and colleges as a matter of right.

Dr S.K. BARIA, Pathankot

IV

It is not impossible to tackle female foeticide. The solution lies not in the formulation of laws but in their effective implementation. Dowry system should go once and for all. If illiteracy too is rooted out, the Indians’ psyche will change for the better.

Moreover, there is need for general awareness, especially among women. Social activists must lend a helping hand to revolt against this menace. Every woman must take an oath not to kill the female foetus. Only then, this problem can be solved.

SOURABH BAMBA, Ferozepur City

Learning a life-long process Man, the master of this universe is, by nature, a questioning animal. He has an inborn desire to explore the unknown and invent new things. Curiosity is an instinct inborn in him and this gives birth to the desire of learning. Learning is a life long process. It is well said, “Learning begins in cradle and ends in grave”. A person learns something or other at every step of life. Learning enables a man to gain knowledge and enrich his vocabulary. It opens the portal of the hidden treasure of knowledge. One can never say that one has learnt enough. Knowledge is a vast ocean and every dip into it enables a person to learn more and enhance his knowledge. MONICA KHANNA, Malerkotla

Call it Mohali

Mohali will become a new district of Punjab from April 14. Let us call it Mohali and not SAS Nagar. All over the world, it is known as Mohali only and not by the other name. Mohali also sounds better and is easy to remember. I appeal to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to name the new district as Mohali.

HARDEEP SINGH SLAICH, Mohali