M A I L B A G

We must save our unborn daughters

Rajesh Kochchar’s article, “Killing unborn daughter: Govt should regulate technology” (May 25) is very timely. We have an obsession for son and this leads to female foeticide. Though our Constitution guarantees equal rights to men and women, females are being selectively killed even before they are born. First they select the sex by taking sex selection medicines, then get the sex determined either by ultrasound or by chromosomal analysis and if the sex of foetus is female, they get the pregnancy terminated.

This social problem can be solved only by educating the masses against the ill-effects of the disturbed sex ratio. Only laws cannot change the societal perception at large. Dowry deaths and corruption continue unabated despite laws to root out these evils. After the Supreme Court directive to all the states and UTs, appropriate state and district authorities have been formed to ensure that the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Act is not violated. However, sex selection by medication and detection of sex of foetus continue with impunity.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Press and religious leaders have a vital role to play to educate the masses against female foeticide.

Dr D.S. JASPAL, Past State President, IMA (Haryana), Ambala

II

Female foeticide is a crime against society. Killing daughters in the womb is bound to disturb the sex ratio and have a destructive effect on society. God lives where women are worshipped.

It is said that the scale of civilisation is measured by the respect and security it accords to its women. It is she who carries the whole mankind in her womb, feeds the man even before its birth, rocks him in the cradle, teaches him to stand on his legs and take a step. Yet the man does not give the respect she richly deserves.

Laws enacted to root out female foeticide are not enough. Society as a whole will have to be awakened to eradicate this evil.

GOVIND RAI, Mansa

III

We are aware about women’s condition today in the male-dominated society. The sex ratio is declining fast in the rural areas. Saints like Guru Nanak had long ago raised their voice to help women.

The people should be made aware of this problem and free education should be imparted to the girls who should muster courage and come forward to raise their voice against foeticide. They should become IAS officers, teachers, journalists, scientists and educationists so that their parents will not consider them as a burden.

We should work together for the reversal of the declining female sex ratio and ensuring a gender balanced and healthy society.

SAKSHI KAKKAR, Faridkot

IV

Mr Amrit Sethi, IMA President (Punjab), has said that their Association will continue to sensitise doctors at different fora against female foeticide, especially with regard to its gender, legal, ethical and human rights dimensions.

This is welcome. Stringent laws will really protect the rights of an unborn girl child. Hopefully, the skewed sex ratio will be rectified.

INNA GUPTA, Faridkot

OBCs don’t need crutches It was heartening to read in the newspapers that candidates from the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) stood first and second in the merit list of the all-India civil services examination. It is also interesting that more than one-third of the candidates from this category constituted the list of successful candidates. Ms Mayawati’s recent electoral success is another victory of Indian democracy. Did the candidates in these two diverse arenas require a reservation to succeed? The paradox is that reservations and the label of backwardness have become prized possessions. “Nowhere else in the world do castes, classes or communities queue up for the sake of gaining backward status. Nowhere… is there competition to assert backwardness and… to claim that we are more backward than you” was observed by the Supreme Court while cautioning politicians against dividing the country on caste lines for narrow political ends. After all backwardness is not something to feel proud of. Self-respect demands that one should not accept the crutches of reservation. Now it has been proved that backward people do not require reservation; they require adequate facilities to come up on the socio-economic ladder. Dr R. KUMAR, Chandigarh

PSEB falters again!

The Punjab State Electricity Board, known for its discrimination towards civil engineers despite their merit and distinction, has faltered again while recommending the names of directors for the Nabha Thermal Corporation and Talwandi Sabo Thermal Corporation. None of the directors of these corporations is a civil engineer.

Without a civil engineer on their board, these corporations are likely to face acute problems in land acquisition, initial planning and foundation work even if the execution is handed over to private hands. Surprisingly, one of the directors of these corporation is from the hydel wing of electrical engineers. A hydel wing engineer for thermal projects when a battery of civil engineers posted at Ropar Thermal, Bathinda Thermal and Rampura Thermal is available!

This is like making a mockery of the state. These are the things that lead the boards into the red. No doubt, such a board should be privatised without delay for impartial working.

GURKIRAT SINGH, Mohali

Welcome, but…

The Punjab State Electricity Board has started replacing the existing consumption meters with new electronic ones in Dugri Urban Estate, Ludhiana. This is welcome and consumers have no objection to it.

However, the problem is that the new meters are being installed in streets outside the consumers’ premises. How can a consumer be made liable for the safety of the meter and the seal when the meter is not installed in his premises? Who will look after it 24 hours and who can protect it from miscreants?

K.S. PREMI, Ludhiana