SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Haryana is one of India’s richest states, but it has a major problem: it has far fewer women than men. Even though the government has tried to fix this with big campaigns and strict laws, the numbers keep dropping. This happens because of deeply rooted traditions, money worries, and the misuse of modern technology.
1. The Deep Preference for Sons
In Haryana’s traditional society, families heavily favour boys. A son is seen as a lifeline, he carries on the family name, inherits the land, and takes care of his parents when they get old. Daughters, on the other hand, are often viewed as a financial burden. Even though it is illegal, the tradition of paying a heavy dowry (money and gifts) for a daughter’s wedding makes many families feel that raising a girl is too expensive.
2. Wealth Makes it Easier to Break the Law
Surprisingly, richer cities like Gurugram often have worse sex ratios than poorer rural areas. This is because wealthy families can easily afford to pay for illegal medical tests. India has a strict law (the PCPNDT Act) that bans doctors from revealing the sex of a baby before birth, but rich families find ways around it.
3. Fewer Children, More Pressure
Today, most families only want one or two children. Because they want smaller families, the pressure to make sure at least one child is a boy is immense. If the first baby is a girl, families often feel desperate to ensure the second baby is a boy, leading them to seek out illegal sex-selection methods.
Why the Authorities Are Failing
Government officials and police face several major roadblocks that keep them from solving the problem:
(1) Technology is Moving Too Fast: Instead of visiting sketchy clinics, people now use small, portable ultrasound machines that fit inside the trunk of a car. Underground operators drive to remote areas or private homes to do the tests, making it almost impossible for police to track them down.
(2) Border Hopping: When Haryana’s government clamps down hard on local clinics, families simply drive across the border into neighboring states where the rules might not be enforced as strictly.
(3) A Wall of Silence: Neighbours, relatives, and even local doctors rarely report these illegal tests. Because the community agrees with the practice, there are very few whistleblowers, leaving the authorities completely in the dark.
Conclusion
Haryana’s low sex ratio is a sobering reminder that economic growth does not automatically guarantee social progress. Government campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) and police raids on illegal clinics act as vital band-aids, but they only treat the symptoms of the disease. Permanently balancing the scales requires a profound shift in societal values, one where a daughter is celebrated as an equal individual, rather than evaluated as a financial liability.
Reference
1.https://blog.lukmaanias.com/2024/11/12/gender-ratio-of-haryana/?hl=en
2.https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/haryana/gurugram-sex-ratio-dips-to-862-dc-orders-intensified-campaign-against-illegal-sex-determination/article71025848.ece?hl=en
3.https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/why-india-s-sex-selection-law-needs-a-rethink?hl=en-
4.https://youtu.be/PW5l8wiFuqQ?si=nSZedXU3aBsX8uig
