WOMEN – 2011 - Indian Social Institute

for excess mortality rates in girls, the authors have estimated that the number of selective abortion of girls
rose from 0 -2 million in the 1980s to 1.2 million - 4.1 million in the 1990s, and to 3.1million - 6 million in
the 2000s. Each one per cent decline in child sex ratio at 0-6 year age implied between 1.2 million and
3.6 million more selective abortion of girls. District-wise The authors point out that between 2001 and
2011 Censuses, more than twice the number of Indian districts showed decline in the child sex ratio
compared to districts with no change or increases. They also point out that a Pre-Conception and Pre-
Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act in 1996 to prevent misuse of techniques for the purpose of prenatal sex
determination has been effective nationally but a reliable monitoring and reporting of sex ratios by birth
order in each district could be “a reasonable part of any effort to curb the growth of selective abortions of
girls.” (Hindu, 25/05/2011)
Four booked for demanding dowry
Following the instruction by Superintendent of Police (Rural), four persons, including two women have
been booked by Manglore Police on charges of torture and violence for dowry. According to the police, a
resident of village Mannakhedi, Parul had in her application addressed to SP (Rural) Roshan Lal Sharma,
alleged that her in-laws used to physically torture and harass her for dowry. Parul, who was married with
a resident of Rawli Mehdood in Ranipur, Nitin about six years ago, had alleged that her in-laws used to
ask her to get more dowry from her family and that she was thrown out from her in-laws house about sixmonths
ago. According to case details, Parul, who had been staying in her parent's house since then,
when to her in-laws house in March this year, when her father-in-law expired. Following insistence by her
in-law's relatives, Parul decided to stay with her in-laws after this. In her complaint, Parul has alleged that
her in-laws continued to harass her for dowry even after this. The complaint further states that on April 4,
when Parul was sleeping with her two children, her husband, Nitin, mother-in-law, Sharmila, brother-inlaw,
Neeraj and his wife, Shalu assaulted Parul. The quartet is also accused of dousing Parul with
kerosene with an intention to set her on fire. On hearing Parul's screams, some neighbours rushed to
help her. The next day, Parul was again thrown out of the house with a demand to get cash of Rs 1 lakh
and a motorcycle from her parents. Following this, Parul approached SP (Rural), Roshan Lal Sharma and
submitted an application against her husband and in-laws. Based on instruction given by Sharma,
Manglore police on Monday booked Nitin, Sharmila, Neeraj and Shalu on charges of torture and violence
for dowry. "Investigations into the case are on and if found guilty, the accused will be arrested," Sharma
said. (Pioneer, 25/05/2011)
Women more vulnerable to harassment for dowry
Statistics of crime against women reveal that women are more vulnerable to harassment for dowry in the
city. Out of more than 100 cases of crime against the women registered this year till April, nearly 35 cases
have been registered in related to Dowry Act, while 116 cases had been registered in last year for the
same offence. According to data provided by SSP office, Dehradun, a total of 109 cases of crime against
the women have been registered this year till April out of which 35 cases have been registered under
Indian Panel Code (IPC) Section 498A which pertains to harassment of the women for dowry followed by
abduction and eve teasing cases. As per data, 20 cases of abduction have been lodged during the same
period while 15 cases of eve teasing have been registered followed by 14 rape cases. Notably, five
women have been killed this year so far of which three were murdered for the dowry while rest two were
killed in a property dispute case. While 18 cases of murder including murder for dowry had been lodged
last year, it was 14 cases in year 2009. It is to be noted that total 361 cases related to women had been
registered in year 2010, while total 372 cases were registered in year 2009. The crime graph suggests
that women are vulnerable to crime in the city. The police are not able to curtail such type of heinous
crime as more than 30 cases of rape had been registered last year against the 25 in year 2009. However,
SSP Dehradun GS Martolia said harassment of the women for the dowry and subsequently murder is
more a kind of social evil rather than law and order problem. Simultaneously, he stressed that police is
successful in working out cases like rape, eve teasing and harassment for the dowry cent percent.
(Pioneer, 31/05/2011)
Sonia launches free delivery scheme of Health Ministry
A national initiative guaranteeing free delivery, free medicines and diet for pregnant women in
government health institutes was unveiled by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi here today. In an effort to
tackle maternal mortality, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is starting the scheme. "It is sad that