Pawar''s daughter on anti-female foeticide mission
PTI | 12:07 PM,Jul 20,2011"It is a shame that despite Maharashtra being one of the most developed states in India, such practices exist. I have spoken with the HRD ministry to have a debate and poster contest among college students on the issue," she said. "Today's youth are tomorrow's parents. Let them say that they will opt for sonography for health reasons and not for finding out the child's gender," she added. Asked what prompted her to undertake this mission, Sule said, "I have been monitoring the fall in girl child numbers in my own district." Another motivating factor was news of several female foetuses found in drain in Beed district, she said. "On one hand, we say India is a roaring tiger in the 21st century and on the other hand, we see these things." The NCP MP also said that she met the Chief Minister, Deputy CM, Home minister, Rural Development minister and senior officials, seeking their intervention in curbing this practice. "I felt doctors also need to be involved in the initiative," she said. "We are trying to develop this programme with help of everybody, the government and NGOs. We are looking at the next five to 10 years. The government is doing all it can to curb the practice, but only making legislation won't help as this is an emotional social issue, she said. "At the same time, I don't want a woman to lose her right for abortion. Let us not confuse the two issues. A woman should have her right to have an abortion if she chooses to.This is not to be connected to the gender issue," Sule said. "It could be in a rape case or if she becomes pregnant by mistake or cannot afford to have a child or if the child dies in her womb. Then she should have that option," she added.
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