With 90% abandonment rate, females babies are dying throughout Rajasthan, India just because they are female. They die because they are left outside in to be exposed to the elements and wild animals. Some babies are rescued but two alternatives exist – death due being so ill or placement in adoption centers. What is at the heart of the female abandonment even though it is illegal is the widespread, practice of dowry, a financial transaction paid to the groom’s family at the time of marriage. Thus to parents, daughters are a financial burden, whereas sons bring a value back into the family when marrying. Abandonment is typically seen in areas of poverty. Those who can afford it have undergone sex-selective abortions, another illegal act.
Two efforts have been introduced to fight both of these activities. In 1994, The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PSPNDT) in 1994, criminalized prenatal sex-determination tests, with an aim to prevent their misuse to selectively abort female fetuses. It has had minor success due to the continued expectation of dowries. The second effort is Rajasthan’s state government introducing the Ashray Palna Yojana project in the 2015-2016 budget. Under the project, 67 cradles were set-up throughout the state – at all district hospitals, medical colleges, and satellite hospitals for the parents to anonymously leave their unwanted babies. Similar to our Safe Haven Law idea here in the US. prosecution of abandonment will not occur as long as the baby is relinquished to medical facilities (hospital, ER) some fire stations and some churches. In all cases, the hand-off must be to a responsible person within. The Ashray Palna Yojana project is slightly different. The hand-off can be anonymous whereby a two way door is setup at the adoption center. The outside door opens for placement of the infant causing a bell to ring inside. The inside door opens for retrieval of the infant.
Child rights activists believe that not enough is being done. Attitudes must be changed and they know it will take years. So even making it legal to give up one’s child, it is not addresses the real issues just absolving parents of their responsibility towards their daughters, without doing anything to address preference for boys in society. Another concern is beyond the cradle. Yes the infant survives but the conditions are not perfect. For some the places they end up in … are in bad shape with not enough staff, following illegal processes.
These efforts and more as such the every daughter should have the right to live and grow, where a future where no daughter is a burden, and no woman helpless.