7/1/13 Save girls - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Save girlsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Save girls, save the girl child, or Beti Bachao, Beti Bachao Andolan in Urdu, is a campaign in India toend the gender-selective abortion of female fetuses, which has skewed the population towards a significantunder-representation of girls in some Indian states. The "Beti Bachao" campaign is supported by human rightsgroups, non-governmental organizations, and state and local government in India.

Contents

1 Female foeticide

2 Beti Bachao awareness campaign

3 National support

4 Effectiveness

5 See also6 References

Female foeticide

Further information: Female foeticide in India

Sex-selective abortion, or female foeticide, has led to a sharp drop in the ratio of girls born in contrast to boyinfants in some states in India. Ultrasound technology has made it possible for pregnant women and their familiesto learn the gender of a foetus early in a pregnancy. Discrimination against girl infants, for several reasons, hascombined with the technology to result in a rise in abortions of fetuses identified as female during ultrasoundtesting.

The trend was first noticed when results of the 1991 national census were released, and it was confirmed to be aworsening problem when results of the 2001 national census were released. The reduction in the femalepopulation of certain Indian states continues to worsen, as results of the 2011 national census have shown. It has

been observed that the trend is most pronounced in relatively prosperous regions of India.[1] The dowry systemin India is often blamed; the expectation that a large dowry must be provided for daughters in order for them to

marry is frequently cited as a major cause for the problem.[2] Pressure for parents to provide large dowries fortheir daughters is most intense in prosperous states where high standards of living, and modern consumerism, aremore prevalent in Indian society.

Rates of female foeticide in Madhya Pradesh are increasing; the rate of live births was 932 girls per 1000 boysin 2001, which dropped to 912 by 2011. It is expected that if this trend continues, by 2021 the number of girls

will drop below 900 per 1000 boys.[3]

Beti Bachao awareness campaign

Beti Bachao activities include large rallies, poster campaigns, wall paintings, billboards, and televisioncommercials and short animations and video films. Celebrities such as video director Jagmeet Bal, andBollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, have become involved in "Save the girl child" initiatives.

7/1/13 Save girls - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_girls 2/2

National support

The Beti Bachao campaign is supported by numerous medical organizations in India, including the Indian

Medical Association.[4]

Government support at the state level has provided funding for Beti Bachao publicity activities in particular. Theexpenditures related to the campaign have been a source of political controversy in Madhya Pradesh, which

launched its official Beti Bachao Abhiyan campaign in 2012.[5]

Effectiveness

The campaign has reported some success in parts of India. In 2009, it was reported that in Gujarat, rates offemale births increased from 802 to 882 for every 1000 male births. Beti Bachao activities were credited with

this improvement.[6]

See also

Because I Am a Girl (campaign)

Dowry system in IndiaFemale foeticide in IndiaGirl

Sex-selective abortion

References

1. ^ Selections from regional press, Volume 22. Institute of Regional Studies. 2003. p. 68.

2. ^ Panwar, Preeti (June 29, 2012). "Female foeticide: Death before birth"(http://zeenews.india.com/news/exclusive/female-foeticide-death-before-birth_782883.html). Zee News.Retrieved September 27, 2012.

3. ^ Gupta, Suchandana (October 3, 2011). "Skewed sex ratio: MP launches 'Beti Bachao Abhiyan'"(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Skewed-sex-ratio-MP-launches-Beti-Bachao-Abhiyan/articleshow/10212751.cms). Times of India. Retrieved September 27, 2012.

4. ^ Journal of the Indian Medical Association (Indian Medical Association) 105 (7-12): 711. 2007.

5. ^ Thomas, Saji (August 17, 2012). "Madhya Pradesh govt's Beti Bachao Abhiyan lands into controversy"(http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MP-BHO-mp-govts-beti-bachao-abhiyan-lands-into-controversy-3659335-NOR.html). Daily Bhaskar. Retrieved September 27, 2012.

6. ^ Pratiyogita Darpan. April 2009. p. 1740.

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