No country for baby girls

 Policymakers too must take their share of the blame, insofar as they remain impervious to the implications of the two-child family norm in a society where the preference for sons is predominant. At least one state law seeks to disqualify elected representatives of local bodies if they have more than two children. Proponents of such punitive measures miss the following common sense point. Fertility decisions are influenced by the survival chances of children, which are linked to the economic security of families. Hence, it would be highly arbitrary to include family size as an eligibility criterion for public office. Sadly, the courts have upheld these sorts of laws, arguing that population growth has an adverse impact on the country's development and elected representatives should lead by example. Mercifully, the enthusiasm for such indiscriminate incentives and disincentives has waned, possibly because there was talk of extending its application to members of State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha. But combating socially engendered discrimination against women and children calls for creating equal opportunities in education and employment and promoting equity and justice, besides enforcing the law on matters like foeticide and dowry. Only thus could traditional stereotypes be broken and the changing roles of women accorded respect and recognition.

The Hindu