Beti Bachao from real foeticide

Last week, speaking in a different context, Narendra Modi directed the country's attention to a scourge that still plagues 21st-c. India: female foeticide. Data on this crime is primarily tracked through two indicators: sex ratio at birth (SRB), reflecting long-term impact of gender-biased selection, and National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports. Recent data shows national SRB reaching 929-930 females per 1,000 males in 2024-25, up from 918 a decade ago. While these gains - largely attributed to legal safeguards - show progress, NCRB's 'Crime in India 2023' report highlights that official registration remains low.

The foeticide landscape reveals a sharp disconnect between stats and criminal records. Civil Registration System (CRS) highlights Jharkhand and Bihar with lowest SRB, at 899 and 900, respectively. Conversely, states with highest registered criminal cases like MP and Rajasthan maintain better ratios. This paradox suggests that higher case volumes in these regions likely reflect more aggressive law enforcement and action, rather than a higher prevalence of the crime itself.

Eliminating foeticide requires more than the stringent Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act 1994, and its subsequent updates. The core focus must be dismantling the 'liability narrative'. We need community-led shifts, such as public celebrations of the female child and engagement of men in equality dialogues. Digital auditing of ultrasound facilities and ethical sensitisation for doctors are vital to prevent misuse of portable detection tools. Ultimately, strengthening social security for the elderly is also critical. By delinking old-age survival from the need for a male heir, it removes any 'RoI' factor from the equation.