Case of the missing daughter

There are just 927 girls for 1000 boys in the country. And in some states like Punjab (798) and Haryana (820), the sex ratio has sunk to frighteningly low levels. The cash scheme being launched today to correct this unhealthy situation may meet with a measure of success in rural areas, but something more drastic would be required to check this trend in urban India, says Aditi Tandon

THE girl child of India never ceases to be in the news. Earlier this week, a two-year-old was killed by her father Lakhwinder Singh Kahlon, a construction worker, in suburban Vancouver. The father detested having a third daughter so decided to slit her throat when his wife was away to drop the other two girls to school. Unwanted — that’s the plight of the girl child in many parts of India.

Beauties big and small
Several new cars were unveiled at the recent 9th Auto Expo in Delhi. Besides Tata’s dream car Nano, new models of big cars like Mercedes, BMW and Corolla will hit the road shortly.
H. Kishie Singh checks out the auto scene
A promise is a promise", said Ratan Tata. As Stanley Kubrick’s theme from A Space Odyssey thundered through the sound system, Ratan Tata unveiled the Nano, and made history. The Rs 1 lakh car was a reality. His move silenced the sceptics and gave the aspirations of millions a fillip. Ratan Tata’s actions and words were seen and heard around the world.