Change in mindset must to check girl embryo killings: Shri Dharmadhikari

Workshop of advocates and public prosecutors held

Bhopal:Saturday, July 25, 2009:Updated 18:00IST Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice Shri DM Dharmadhikari has stressed the need for a change in mindset more than enacting laws to check girl embryo killings. Shri Dharmadhikari expressed these views while addressing a one-day workshop on advocates and public prosecutors' role in checking girl embryo killings. The workshop was organised jointly by Human Rights Law Network, MP Human Rights Commission and UNFPA. Commission's member Shri Vijay Shukul, Smt. Shubhra Pachouri, Shri Tejram Jat and Dr. Sabu George were also present on the occasion.
Shri Dharmadhikari said that Central and state governments are making efforts for women's empowerment. They are being given all kinds of rights. Women have also been given share in their paternal property Even then the malpractice of killing girl embryo is unchecked due to mindset about girls in the society.
He enumerated the measures which can enhance women's importance in society including less expensive marriages, equal burden of marriage expenses on both the in-laws, participation of women in funeral processions and right to perform last rites of their parents if they do not have a male heir.
He exhorted NGO activists, employees of the district administration and human rights activists to undertake surprise checks of the units, which perform sex determination tests and take action against erring institutions.
Shri Vijay Shukul said that large scale social, economic and cultural reforms are required to put an end to girl embryo killings. He called for a campaign like the one launched by Raja Ram Mohan Roy to end this malpractice. He said NGOs should develop a website through which they can help a pregnant woman who is pressurised for embryo killing.
Shri Sabu George said when the results of census 2011 come to fore, it is feared that the figures of ratio of women in Madhya Pradesh will be worse than in 2001. He said that 38 thousand less girls than boys are taking birth in the state. He said that the objective of this workshop is to increase sensitivity towards this burning social problems among advocates and public prosecutors.
Shri Tajram Jat said that in 14 districts ratio of girls has become less than boys. The number of girls is depleting fast even in four major cities of the state where literacy rate is very high. He said that technology is bringing about fatal results in the case of girl embryo killings. At the outset, Sushri Shubhra Pachouri of Human Rights Law Network threw light on the objectives of the workshop, which was conducted by Smt. Archana Sahay.