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Indian Religious Leaders Asked to Help Solve Unbalanced Sex Ratio

As recently as 1999, among Indian children ages zero to six, there were 945 females per 1,000 males-- this year there are only 927 females for every 1,000 males. In one region, Punjab, the ratio is 793 females per 1,000 males. These alarming statistics reflect a gender imbalance that the Indian government fears will have large social consequences in the coming decades. They, along with The Indian Medical Association (IMA) are bringing together 250 religious heads next week to discuss what can be done to prevent the female-male ratio from plummeting even further.

Why does the sex-ratio imbalance exist in the first place? There may be many reasons, but the traditional son preference in the region and dowry practices are foremost among them. The cost of the dowry is so high that many would prefer to pay for an ultrasound and abort the fetus if female, then risk the chance of a baby girl. The preference for sons is also rising in relation to the rising preference for smaller families.

The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation, Prevention and Misuse) Act implemented in January 1, 1996 is supposed to prevent against such techniques. However, since its inception there has not even been one case filed for violation of the act. The government is planning to require all ultrasound devices to be registered in the near future, which should make the act more effective. The IMA is also increasing its measures, from a former declaration that sex-determination was unethical, to a new policy where the IMA will recommend that members engaged in sex-determination be de-recognized.

In April, Sikh clergy decided to take an action of their own. They issued a hukumnama (a formal order or command) punishing female foeticide with excommunicating. There voice in particular is an important on, as in Punjab women from religions other then Islam and Hinduism, (mainly Shiks) have a very strong preference for sons in general. In fact, one reason that religious leader's input and actions are so crucial in this matter is that son preference does often appear to relate to religion. There is only one state where Hindus do not, in general, exhibit a son preference whereas Muslims tend to exhibit less of a son preference.

Some citizens voiced skepticism, however, that the Sikh's action would have much of an effect. As Saroj Pachauri, the director of the Population Council, said, ‘‘We need to create awareness and change the mindset of the people because in this crime, there are no witnesses, and if the demand remains, so will people who offer services." Religious leaders may be just the group to initiate such a change in mindset. Whatever reasons there might be for sex-selection, it is clear that these leaders being called upon to take action. What remains to be seen is if their actions can succeed at raising the sex-ratio toward equality, where other measures have thus far failed.

Religious heads roped in to set right sex ratio (Indian Express, 6/19)

Sikh priests convene meet on female foeticide (The Hindu 4/22)

Sikh hukumnama bans female foeticide (Tehelka 5/1)

Son Preference and Its Effect on Fertility in India (National Family Health Survey 1997)

Indian Medical Association

The IMA has been at the forefront of efforts to normalize the Indian sex ratio. Along with the Indian government, they have decided to call in religious leaders to assist in the efforts.

Gateway to the Government of India on the Web

Gateway to the Websites / webpages of Indian Government Ministries/ Departments/ Organisations run by the National Informatics Centre.