India to open orphanages for female infants to reduce sex-selective abortion

The Indian government plans to set up orphanages in each regional district for female infants in an effort to curb sex-selective abortions, Renuka Chowdhury, minister of women and child development, said, the PTI/Hindustan Times reports (PTI/Hindustan Times, 2/18).

India in 1994 approved the Prenatal Determination Act, which bans the use of technologies such as ultrasounds and sonograms for the purpose of sex-selective abortion.

The law also bans advertisements for prenatal sex determination, as well as the practice of preconception sex selection law.

According to a UNICEF report released in December 2006, about 7,000 fewer girls than expected are born daily in India, and about 10 million fewer girls than expected were born in the past 20 years.

The most recent Indian census figures found that the gender ratio decreased from 947 girls per 1,000 boys to 927 girls per 1,000 boys from 1991 to 2001 (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/20/06).

Chowdhury said money had been allocated in the next budget for the orphanage program, but she did not disclose the program's cost, the AP/International Herald Tribune reports (AP/International Herald Tribune, 2/18).

"It is a matter of international and national shame for us that India ... still kills its daughters," Chowdhury said, adding, "What we are saying to the people is have your children, don't kill them. And if you don't want a girl child, leave her to us" (PTI/Hindustan Times, 2/18).

In related news, police in the Indian province of Madhya Pradesh are investigating the Christian Medical Hospital for possible participation in sex-selective abortion, government officials said on Monday AFP/Yahoo! News reports.

According to AFP/Yahoo! News, police received a tip that staff at the hospital was performing illegal abortions, and on Saturday 437 bones were found close to the facility.

State Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi said, "Initial reports indicate feticide or infanticide," adding, "The bones and skulls were of fetuses and very young children" (AFP/Yahoo! News, 2/19).