Drop in female population leading to atrocities: Study

The declining female population is giving rise to dangerous social changes The widening gap in the gender ratio has resulted in social evils From Anganwadi children to old women helpless victims are subjected to rape

The rise in atrocities against women, women and child trafficking, child marriage, rape, child mortality and sexual harassment are all the result of decline in female population in the State. The declining female population by the year is giving rise to dangerous social changes. Such a trend has come to light by the study conducted by State Commission on the Protection of Child Rights, in collaboration with several organisations, reports Kannada Prabha.

The widening gap in the gender ratio has resulted in social evils like dowry harassment and deaths, child marriage, gender determination tests and foeticide, girl child trafficking, rape and sexual harassment and honour killing. Such heinous crimes are occurring irrespective of age. From Anganwadi children to old women helpless victims are subjected to rape.  Such is the degeneration of morality in society. Hence several families are preferring not to have girl child at all. This is a dangerous trend.

All steps taken by the government to prevent gender determination tests have failed. The confusion created in the minds of public regarding culture concepts, superstitions and modern technology is adding to the declining gender ratio. The girl child and women are subjected to discrimination of serious sort, which is threatening the basis of sound healthy society.

According to a survey conducted by Women and Child Welfare Department in 2016, girl children aged 0 to 6 years are 64,976 whereas boys of 0 to 6 years of age are 68, 917.  There are 3,941 less girls to boys. In 2017, January there is a further decline in girls of 0 to 6 years as well as 5 to 16. The female foeticide is seen in all caste, class, rural and urban areas.