SURAT: Ruchika (name changed), a 30-year-old housewife from Katargam, became a mother of a girl child five years ago. She had twice gone forabortions in the last 18 months as she wants to give birth to a baby boy only. Among the 26 districts in Gujarat, Surat has just 788 females for every 1,000 males. The love for a baby boy in many families leave little choice for mothers like Ruchika.
Latest birth figures released by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) reveal that about 37,989 male children were born as against 30,570 girls in 2011. This confirms the latest 2011 census figures that point towards a skewed sex ratio in Surat.
Gujarat government's 'save the girl child' seems has failed to bring about any perceptible change in people's prejudice against the girl child in the diamond city. In 2007, the birth rate of female child was 12.04% less compared to that of males. However, it recovered to only 0.38% in 2011 at 12.42%.
Saurashtrian Patidar community leaders in Varachha and Katargam were the first to start a campaign to 'save the girl child'. Grooms and brides have been taking oath to refrain from going for abortion if it is a girl child at thousands of mass marriages held by the community.
Urban population has grown by 65% since 2001 in Surat. Today, 80% of its 45 lakh population live in urban areas. However, the sex ratio in urban Surat is just 757, way below the national average of 940 females per 1,000 males.
This imbalance in birth of male and female children in the diamond city is worrying sociologists. Dr Parvez Abbasi, head of sociology department, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) said, "Dowry system is still prevalent in Patidar community. Though they do not hate the girl child, parents view her as an economic liability."
Rekha Mistry, assistant professor, VNSGU, said, "May communities including Marwaris and Patidars follow a patriarchal system."
A few months ago, Aapmrutyu Nivaran Sanstha (ANIS), an NGO working for women's rights, had conducted a survey in the diamond city. Geeta Shroff of ANIS told TOI, "Surat's economy is dependent on the diamond and textile industries. Migrants, who come with an intention of prospering in life, always expect a boy child who for them is an economic investment. For many original Surtis, girl child is not a liability."
Link: Girl child has no place in diamond city
Latest birth figures released by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) reveal that about 37,989 male children were born as against 30,570 girls in 2011. This confirms the latest 2011 census figures that point towards a skewed sex ratio in Surat.
Gujarat government's 'save the girl child' seems has failed to bring about any perceptible change in people's prejudice against the girl child in the diamond city. In 2007, the birth rate of female child was 12.04% less compared to that of males. However, it recovered to only 0.38% in 2011 at 12.42%.
Saurashtrian Patidar community leaders in Varachha and Katargam were the first to start a campaign to 'save the girl child'. Grooms and brides have been taking oath to refrain from going for abortion if it is a girl child at thousands of mass marriages held by the community.
Urban population has grown by 65% since 2001 in Surat. Today, 80% of its 45 lakh population live in urban areas. However, the sex ratio in urban Surat is just 757, way below the national average of 940 females per 1,000 males.
This imbalance in birth of male and female children in the diamond city is worrying sociologists. Dr Parvez Abbasi, head of sociology department, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) said, "Dowry system is still prevalent in Patidar community. Though they do not hate the girl child, parents view her as an economic liability."
Rekha Mistry, assistant professor, VNSGU, said, "May communities including Marwaris and Patidars follow a patriarchal system."
A few months ago, Aapmrutyu Nivaran Sanstha (ANIS), an NGO working for women's rights, had conducted a survey in the diamond city. Geeta Shroff of ANIS told TOI, "Surat's economy is dependent on the diamond and textile industries. Migrants, who come with an intention of prospering in life, always expect a boy child who for them is an economic investment. For many original Surtis, girl child is not a liability."
Link: Girl child has no place in diamond city
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