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Divorce on the rise in India, but archaic laws leave women cast aside

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:48:15 +0000

Divorce on the rise in India, but archaic laws leave women cast aside

The first year of Rajesha Hamar’s married life was peaceful. In the second, her husband began to drink. Then he started to punch and throttle her when they argued. Then he began to sexually assault her, in front of the relatives with whom they shared their one-room home in a Delhi slum.

After 18 months of this, Ms. Hamar fled to her mother’s house with her baby daughter. She left everything behind, including the dowry her family had paid with most of their savings – clothes, dishes, a motorbike, and her gold jewellery.

In the year since she left, Ms. Hamar’s husband has paid her nothing in maintenance and contributed nothing to the care of their child. She keeps her toddler, Sakshi, fed with the $25 a month she earns housecleaning. Her husband, the neighbours tell her, is still drinking and has voiced no remorse for beating her.

Nevertheless, what Ms. Hamar wants more than anything is to go back to him. This is not delusional battered-wife-syndrome, but rather cold-eyed realism on her part.

“If I don’t go back, I’ve got nothing,” she says, “I’ll never have anything.”

With those words, Ms. Hamar speaks for tens of thousands – perhaps hundreds of thousands – of Indian women who are trapped in abusive or broken marriages by archaic divorce laws and a dysfunctional court system.

Divorce and separation are both on the rise here, as customs in India shift with rapid economic growth and social change. But in the vast majority of cases, it is men who petition for divorce – because women suffer terribly if their marriages end.

In the year since she left, Ms. Hamar’s husband has paid her nothing in maintenance and contributed nothing to the care of their child. She keeps her toddler, Sakshi, fed with the $25 a month she earns housecleaning. Her husband, the neighbours tell her, is still drinking and has voiced no remorse for beating her.

Nevertheless, what Ms. Hamar wants more than anything is to go back to him. This is not delusional battered-wife-syndrome, but rather cold-eyed realism on her part.

“If I don’t go back, I’ve got nothing,” she says, “I’ll never have anything.”

With those words, Ms. Hamar speaks for tens of thousands – perhaps hundreds of thousands – of Indian women who are trapped in abusive or broken marriages by archaic divorce laws and a dysfunctional court system.

Divorce and separation are both on the rise here, as customs in India shift with rapid economic growth and social change. But in the vast majority of cases, it is men who petition for divorce – because women suffer terribly if their marriages end.

“In the West, women also pay an economic price for divorce, but here it is much more dramatic, because we don’t have the basic rights and entitlements we should have,” said Kirti Singh, an advocate at India’s Supreme Court.

Ms. Singh is spearheading a drive by women’s groups for the reform of divorce law; she recently concluded a series of “tribunals” held across the country in which divorced and separated (and many now-impoverished) women from all economic classes testified about their trials under the law. (That process, and Ms. Singh’s research, were funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre.) Now the lawyer-activists are pushing government to change the law.

A grim confluence of factors makes divorce punishing for Indian women. The country has no law for the division of marital property; items belong to the person who bought them, and typically men put every major purchase such as a home or a vehicle in their own names. When assets are divided, women frequently end up with none.

There is no automatic right to maintenance payments in the case of separation; women must hire lawyers and go to court to petition for this – a step that is already out-of-reach for millions of poor and illiterate women. Less than half of women ever ask for maintenance. They must make a separate petition for child support. In the clogged and dysfunctional legal system, it often takes years to obtain even an interim order.

When these are awarded, they tend to be negligible, Ms. Singh said. Her research found that maintenance awards were for between one-twentieth and one-tenth of a man’s stated income. “The biggest problem for a woman is to prove what he actually has.” With the dysfunctional tax-collection process here, men typically report only a small fraction of what they actually earn – “whether they are daily wage-earners or businessmen, that’s the same.”

Then, regardless of the size of the award, the maintenance orders are almost never enforced, Ms. Singh added, so that in practice, women frequently receive nothing. Forty-six per cent of the women in her survey said their payments did not arrive, and of those who received them, 60 per cent said the funds did not come on time.

Finally, very few women succeed in having their dowry – or their stridhan, a gift such as jewellery that a family may give a bride to ensure her some economic independence – returned. The practice of paying dowry is illegal in India but still widely practised; the Prohibition of Dowry Act states first that dowry is illegal, and secondly, that if it is paid in defiance of the law, it must be returned in the event of divorce.

“The harsh reality is that the process is difficult or even impossible,” said Anu Narula, a Supreme Court advocate who focuses on this issue. For many families, such as Ms. Hamar’s, the dowry and bridal jewellery may represent a huge amount of their savings, now lost. Yet Ms. Singh’s research found that just 30 per cent of divorced or separated women end up recovering any of it.

Thus many end up feeling as Ms. Hamar does. “Women feel you can’t give divorce and the law also says ‘don’t’ – because what will she receive, or where will she live?” Ms. Singh said. Refusing to agree to divorce (India does not have no-fault) is the only tool that women have to force their husbands to negotiate a settlement, she said.

Ms. Hamar, who is illiterate and utterly ignorant of the laws that exist – even that spousal abuse is illegal – feels entirely without choices. But the situation can also be grim for women with far greater resources.

Mitu Khurana, a 34-year-old pediatrician, left her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, four years ago – after he and his parents allegedly assaulted her repeatedly. She, too, had to leave all her assets behind – including a dowry and stridhan worth more than $100,000, she said – but with the help of her parents, she filed criminal charges, and petitioned for maintenance. Three years later, the cases are still before the courts and she receives only $175 a month in child support for her two daughters, which does not, she said, even cover their school fees.

Full Article

Save India's Baby Girls March!

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:26:14 +0000

for details, click on the poster image to enlarge

Global March for India's Missing Girls

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:23:00 +0000

for details, click on the poster image to enlarge

March Against the Unspoken Truth!

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:20:14 +0000

for details, click on the poster image to enlarge

culture shockers: Abort your daughter now, save on a dowery later - A look at gendercide in China and India

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:43:56 +0000

culture shockers: Abort your daughter now, save on a dowery later – A look at gendercide in China and India

What would you do if your husband forced you to get rid of your unborn child?

Like Dr. Mitu Khurana, an Indian woman featured on our Bell Bajao! blog who faced enormous pressure from her husband and extended family to abort her twin daughters. She held strong and ultimately remained determined to bring justice to the people that tried to force her into abortion.

In reading more about this, we learned that China’s current ratio of boys to girls is 123 boys per 100 girls, according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). And although India does not report figures on sex-ratios at birth, the most accurate estimations report a similar ratio to that of China.

This is the result of “Gendercide,” a term that dates back to Mary Anne Warren’s 1985 book about the “implications of sex selection.” As an analogy to genocide, gendercide is defined as “the deliberate extermination of persons of a particular sex (or gender).” According to The Economist’s recent feature, “Gendercide: What happened to 100 million baby girls?” several factors have contributed to this dangerous trend.

China introduced its controversial one-child law in 1979. Families, now only allowed one child, tend to be adamant that he is a boy. With access to prenatal ultrasounds, they are able to abort each female fetus until they eventually produce a son. However, the one-child policy is not the whole story because China is not the only country with a skewed ratio. Other countries, such as India, who do not live under the one-child law still experience “the modern desire for smaller families,” which ultimately creates similar results. Often families need sons in order to perform hard physical labor to bring money home to support the family. Or they prefer a son so that he can pass on the family name. Furthermore, daughters often come with burdens, such as dowry payments.

Full Article

लड़ने के जज्बे को मिला सम्मान

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:23:27 +0000

लड़ने के जज्बे को मिला सम्मान

अपने समाज, आसपास और खुद अपने लिए कुछ करने का माद्दा हो तो फिर इंसान को आगे बढ़ने से कोई नहीं रोक सकता। ऐसे ही हिम्मत का परिचय देने वालों को समाज नमन करता है। फिर चाहे वह भ्रष्टाचार की पोल खोलना हो या अपने शहर व गांव के प्रति अपनी जिम्मेदारी का निर्वहन करना हो। वीडियो के माध्यम से अपनी बात कहनी हो या एक फोटो से सारी कहानी बयां करना हो। चाहे जिस तरह की भी हिम्मत आप दिखाते हों, उसका सम्मान दुनिया करती है। सीएनएन आईबीएन ने आईडिया सैलुलर के साथ मिलकर ऐसे हिम्मती लोगों को सिटीजन जर्नलिस्ट अवार्ड देकर सम्मानित किया।

बॉलीवुड अभिनेता अभिषेक बच्चन ने ताज होटल में हुए इस अवार्ड समारोह में विजेताओं को ट्रॉफी देकर सम्मानित किया। सिटिजन जर्नलिस्ट अवार्ड में कुल छह कैटेगरी रखी गई, जिनके विजेताओं को यहां सम्मानित किया गया।

फाइट बैक कैटेगरी में एचएस डिलीमा, मजलूम और शिव प्रकाश राय को सम्मानित किया गया। सेव योर सिटी कैटेगरी में महेन्द्र अग्रवाल, एसके माहेश्वरी और एसएन सिंह विजेता बने। अनीता भार्गव, नीना चौधरी और विजय लक्ष्मी कौशिक को बी द चेंज कैटेगरी में सम्मानित किया गया। फाइट फॉर हर राइट कैटेगरी में अपने अध्यापक के शारीरिक शोषण के खिलाफ आवाज उठाने वाली चौदह लड़कियों में से एक और एश्वर्या शर्मा, किरन कु़मारी व मीतू खुराना सम्मानित की गईं। बेहतरीन वीडियो के लिए प्रकाश ए नाडर और बेहतरीन फोटो के लिए दिल्ली की रितू मेहरा व एलवी श्रीनिवासन को सम्मानित किया गया।

IBN18 Gives Away Citizen Journalist Awards

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:20:44 +0000

IBN18 Gives Away Citizen Journalist Awards

Abhishek Bachchan honours 16 courageous Citizen Journalists in a glittering award ceremony.

IBN18 in association with IDEA Cellular has announced the winners for the 3rd edition of ‘Citizen Journalist Awards’. Citizen Journalist is a unique platform where the most credible and impactful news is unearthed by none other than the common man who brings a change in the system for a better tomorrow. The various categories under which the iconic individuals will be honoured at this event are Fight Back, Save your City, Be the Change Fight For Her Right, Video and Photo. In a glittering ceremony held in the capital on 19th January, Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan felicitated sixteen Citizen Journalists for their courageous endeavours. The grand finale of the event will be telecast on January 26th at 7:30 pm on CNN-IBN, IBN7 & IBN-Lokmat.

The stories of each of the Citizen Journalists are truly inspirational and present a shining example of selfless struggle for the betterment of others. Following are the winners under various categories who were felicitated at the event.

CJ Fight Back: HS D’Lima, Majloom, Shiv Prakash Rai
CJ Save Your City: Mahendra Agarwal, S.K Maheshwari, S.N Singh
CJ Be the Change: Anita Bhargava, Neena Chaudhary, Vijay Lakshmi Kaushik
CJ Fight for her Right: 14 Girls, Aishwarya Sharma, Kiran Kumari, Mitu Khurana
CJ Video: Prakash M Nadar
CJ Photo: L.V. Srinivasan, Ritu Mehra

Citizen Journalist Awards adheres to a 2-tier selection process involving The IBN18 Editorial Board that generates a list of nominees across these six categories. The Jury comprising Justice N Santosh Hegde, Wajahat Habibullah, Shishir Joshi, Dr. Kiran Bedi and Nilam Katara selected the final list of winners.

Speaking about the initiative, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, CNN-IBN, IBN7 & IBN-Lokmat, said, “Citizen Journalist awards’ aims to acknowledge the power of the common man whose continuous fight for a better society has marked a change. With this award we would like to appeal to the citizens of our country to come forward and raise their voice against the odds.”

Speaking about the award, Ashutosh, Managing Editor, IBN7, said, “We at IBN18 salute the contributions of the undaunted common man of our society. And with this award we would like to pay gratitude to them and motivate others to come forward.”

Enumerating about the award, Nikhil Wagle, Editor, IBN-Lokmat, said “Citizen Journalist is a platform instituted to encourage the common man to fight for justice. We at IBN18 feel honored to serve the citizens through this initiative.”

_ _ _

IBN18 announces Citizen Journalist Award winners

Citizens Journalist Award

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:13:51 +0000

Citizens Journalist Award

We at IBN18 Network are delighted to announce the 3rd edition of the very prestigious, path breaking, editorial initiative – the ‘Citizen Journalist Awards’ this month.

We wish to congratulate you on winning the prestigious Citizen Journalist Award in the category of Fight For Her Right.

About the awards:

‘Be the Change, you want to see’, is the motto of Citizen Journalist on the IBN18 Network. We take pride in sharing that the Citizens of our country have truly proved their mettle and have shown courage and determination to cross all barriers. The energy, effort and enthusiasm of our Citizen Journalists have been truly remarkable. Their stories have created impact, not just solving their personal problem, but also setting a trend for society where the Citizen doesn’t remain a passive player.

Fight for her Right

Girl child - no more a disgrace

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 04:57:38 +0000

Girl child – no more a disgrace

Kalpana Chawla was adulated for becoming the first Indian woman in space. Sushmita Sen was applauded for winning the Miss Universe title. In an era when accolades are achieved by women it is shocking to witness a criminal amount of gender discrimination. What is surprising is the fact that even in metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi, we hear about severe instances of gender discrimination. The stories narrated below are such disturbing events in the life of mothers and their daughters.

An innocent infant who otherwise is a blessing for any family was cursed even before she was born. Gudiya lived only a mere 28 days. She suffered from severe jaundice and died of a respiratory arrest. Vidhi Arora, her mother still cannot recover from the loss of her little child. Gudiya’s biological father and paternal grandparents could not care less about her death. Vidhi Arora underwent an elective caesarian operation and instead of giving rest to her body she was fighting for her daughter’s life. She was repeatedly tortured by her husband and his family. When she refused to abort the girl child she was subject to physical abuse for several days. Her physical and mental mishandling during this time caused her unborn child to be born unhealthy. The only reason Vidhi never complained till then was because she hope to save her marriage. She hoped that her husband would come to her aid sometime. But today when Vidhi has undergone this tragic misfortune she stands up in protest. With the strength of a mother who is protesting against the injustice her little girl child had undergone.

Meetu Khurana is a similar story. She is mother to beautiful twin daughters, Guddu and Pari who were denied the right to even live when their gender was discovered. Meetu’s husband is a doctor himself. She was initially forced to perform sex determination but when she refused, she was subject to physical and emotional torture. Meetu was later tricked into taking an ultra sound and determining the sex of her unborn children. Her husband and in-laws tried everything to abort the pregnancy. The birthing later occurred under the care of Meetu’s own parents. Post-partum Meetu made several attempts to bring peace in the family but each of them failed. Meetu filed a complaint under the PNDT Act against her husband. She received discouraging words from the PNDT panel and life threats from the hospital that conducted the sex determination. She approached several other concerned organizations and each of them failed to react since there was no actual female feticide. Meetu has now decided to pursue a legal case against her husband’s misbehavior.

There are innumerable such stories that show the ugly face of societal attitude today. Each of these women has courageously tried to save their kids from forced death. Each of us need to understand that sex determination during conception occurs with the male chromosome and is in fact their incapability. Giving birth to a female child is not a choice of the mother. A child; be it male or female always brings pride to the family he or she is born to. Both the parents and their immediate family need to realize how the gender of an unborn child is not a sign of their underlying capability in the future.

WORTHLESS DAUGHTERS

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:44:14 +0000

“People don’t want daughters because they are not helpful to the family -· they leave the family when they marry. Daughters are useless! Unworthy! It is sons who are able to inherit assets…”·

Gender Discrimination Plagues India and the Far East

Female infanticide. Lack of education. Overwork. Domestic abuse. Dowry murders. Skewed male-to-female population ratios. Higher child mortality rates for girls due to neglect and malnutrition. Female feoticide (abortion) based on ultrasound accessibility…

What do all these point to?
Discrimination against women and girls.

* * *

MEET MITU KHURANA

“The life of a female has no value, but the sham of the family must be maintained at all costs.”
Dr. Mitu Khurana · entered into a marital nightmare when she married in 2004.

On the third day after her marriage, her mother in-law told her that the family never liked her, but that they agreed to the match as a compromise – the compromise was because of her husband’s increasing age, according to her mother in-law.

Mitu was kept under total house arrest, apart from her work at the hospital. She couldn’t even go to the local market after work. Her husband ignored her, and if he did talk, it was usually to shout at her. Both husband and mother-in-law verbally abused her, in addition to dowry demands made by her mother in-law.

“Whenever my husband used to abuse me , my mother in law would tell me that I should silently listen to all abuses because I was a woman, and in their house, women don’t speak”

In 2005, she became pregnant. Her husband and mother in-law increased their verbal· and physical abuse upon her.· Though she· was on complete bed rest as advised by doctors due to threatened abortion, she was expected to do all the household work, as there was no servant in the house.

Then in her 6th week of pregnancy, her in-laws fed her egg-laden cake, knowing she was allergic to egg. She fell ill and was taken to a hospital, against her wishes to be treated at home.· There at the hospital, the doctor advised a K.U.B. (kidney, ureter, bladder) ultrasound, but the report barely mentions K.U.B, and instead mentions fetal ultrasound. Husband and mother in-law were present to discover the sex of the fetuses.

Mitu was carrying twin daughters.

According to Mitu her mother in-law repeatedly asked that at least one child be killed in-utero.
After their birth, Mitu tried to return to her in-law’s house, where the abuse toward her continued.
“I had no help in looking after children. There was no love or respect for children or me. I was not even sure my children and I would be safe there. My mother in law deliberately pushed down my 4-month-old daughter from the staircase and pretended it was an accident. Fortunately I was able to hold her carrying cot and save her harm. They never showed any love or affection towards them. Their grandparents & aunts have rejected them totally.”

Today, thanks to Mitu’s parents who stand by her and with whom she and her daughters live, her girls are happy and doing well in school. But they are aware of the tensions that plague their mother.

Illegal Ultra-Sound

Mitu is the first woman in India to file a case under· the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, in which it is illegal to use ultrasound for sex-determination. However, as with all her complaints, delays such as repeated adjournments, delays at the police level, and no interim protection orders, have held her cases in limbo.

The judiciary system is indifferent to Mitu; first her in-laws harassed her, then police and government agencies, now the judiciary – all of whom side with her husband, ask her to withdraw her cases, and accuse her of being selfish, of only wanting to harass her in-laws and bring publicity for her own ego.

What Mitu wants most is her daughters’ safety, and is asking people worldwide through petitions to help protect them from their abusive father.

To bring awareness to the judiciary system that he is a threat to their safety as long as he has not been convicted. In their eyes, the father has the natural right to visit them, even if he previously tried to kill them.

Full Article: Worthless Daughters

Photos from Signature Campaign for Mitu

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:33:36 +0000

Students and friends have come together to campaign for justice for Mitu

The ‘Rosa Parks’ of India

admin — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:39:40 +0000

The ‘Rosa Parks’ of India

n December 1, 1955, a 42 year old black woman refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks’ act of civil disobedience helped spark the Civil Rights Movement and was key in ending racial segregation. The U.S. Congress later called Rosa Parks, “the mother of the freedom movement.”

Racial discrimination was one of the great social injustices of our time. However, there is another even greater injustice being perpetrated today. An injustice of such proportions that racial segregation, as ugly as it was, seems mild in comparison.

100 million girls are missing in Asia due to female feoticide and infanticide.

In India, discrimination against women has become a crisis:

More than 50 million women have been systematically eliminated from India in about 3 generations.
There are more than 25000 dowry related murders of young women every year, and the thousands who don’t succumb to attempts to burn, hang or poison them, live crippled for the rest of their lives.
Thousands of infant girls are routinely killed after birth by various methods — doodh peeti (drowning the baby in a bucket of milk), strangling, burying in pots, or feeding them husks of grain with honey.
The mortality rate for girls under 5 is 40% higher than that for boys the same age and these girls are dying of starvation and deliberate neglect. They are being allowed to die.
One pregnant woman dies every 5 minutes because women are forced to undergo repeated pregnancies and abortions, and often subject to cheap and unsafe methods of abortion
More so, despite existing laws, a large section of the medical fraternity colludes with families to systematically eliminate about a million female fetuses and/or prevent their birth through sex-selected abortions, and other technologies. (statistics from The 50 Million Missing Campaign)

The women and girls of India are suffering unspeakable abuse and neglect, simply because they are female. The war against girls in India is rooted in centuries-old tradition and sustained by deeply ingrained cultural dynamics. It is a cancer that has to be eliminated, and just as racial discrimination was fought in the U.S. through the Civil Rights Movement, India needs a movement of civil rights warriors who will stand for justice.

But is there a Rosa Parks of India to stand with? Is there a woman courageous enough to become “the mother of the freedom movement” in India.

Mitu Khurana is one of the millions of women who have been abused and neglected because she committed the “crime” of bearing girl children. But Mitu Kharana is not one of the millions of women who have bowed to the pressure and killed her daughters. She resisted the immense harassment and intimidation brought to bear by her husband and in-laws. She protected her twin girls from the fate of millions of others. And against great odds, Mitu is the first woman to lodge a formal complaint against her husband and his accomplices in the government and medical community. She is the first woman in India to refuse to move to the back of the bus.

Mitu Khurana– The mother of the woman’s rights movement in India
Mitu Khurana is the Rosa Parks of India.

For all the valiant, socially-conscious, justice-loving people out there; for those of us who know we would have stood with Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King and fought along side the greats of the Civil Rights Movement had we been able– this is our chance to be a part of an historic stand for justice in India.

Mitu’s case is ongoing, and the establishment in India is set against her. Even now, she is fighting, once again, for her twin daughters, as the father who wanted them dead sues for custody as a ploy to coerce Mitu to drop the case against him. You can stand with Mitu by signing her petition and help send a message to the legislature that this case is not going away. You can stand with Mitu by letting her know you are with her and to not give up. You can stand with Mitu by telling your friends about her case and increasing exposure for her cause.

Rosa Parks took a risk when she refused to move to the back of the bus, and she went on to fight the battle for civil rights. Mitu risks even more in her battle as her opponents attempt to use her daughters as pawns in the game. Stand with Shadowline Films and with justice on behalf of Mitu and her daughters. Sign the petition and send messages of support to Mitu through Shadowline Films. Write her a note of encouragement here, and we will pass it on.

7000 female fetuses aborted daily

Barbara Raisbeck — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 03:04:10 +0000

Undesired
by Walter Astrada

Click on image to go to video

India is a diverse country, separated by class and ethnicity. But all women confront the cultural pressure to bear a son. This preference cuts through every social divide, from geography to economy. No woman is exempt.

This preference originates from the belief that men make money while women, because of their expensive dowry costs, are a financial burden. As a result, there is a near constant disregard for the lives of women and girls. From birth until old age, women face a constant threat of violence and too frequently, death.

The numbers are staggering. Since 1980, an estimated 40 million women are ‘missing,’ by way of abortion, neglect or murder. 7,000 female fetuses are aborted every day according to the U.N., aborted solely because they are girls. One dowry death is reported every 77 minutes. Countless others are never known.

The government has tried to intervene. Dowry and sex selective abortions are illegal. Yet both practices still thrive, in large part because of deep-rooted cultural prejudices.

Today, eighty percent of Indian states are now facing a shortage of women. To compensate for this differential, young, unknowing women are bought from surrounding countries like Bangladesh and sold to young bachelors. Not knowing a word of the language, these trafficked women now face the same kinds of violence as other Indian women.

Undesired

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:58:34 +0000

by Walter Astrada

click image to go to video

India is a diverse country, separated by class and ethnicity. But all women confront the cultural pressure to bear a son. This preference cuts through every social divide, from geography to economy. No woman is exempt.

This preference originates from the belief that men make money while women, because of their expensive dowry costs, are a financial burden. As a result, there is a near constant disregard for the lives of women and girls. From birth until old age, women face a constant threat of violence and too frequently, death.

The numbers are staggering. Since 1980, an estimated 40 million women are ‘missing,’ by way of abortion, neglect or murder. 7,000 female fetuses are aborted every day according to the U.N., aborted solely because they are girls. One dowry death is reported every 77 minutes. Countless others are never known.

The government has tried to intervene. Dowry and sex selective abortions are illegal. Yet both practices still thrive, in large part because of deep-rooted cultural prejudices.

Today, eighty percent of Indian states are now facing a shortage of women. To compensate for this differential, young, unknowing women are bought from surrounding countries like Bangladesh and sold to young bachelors. Not knowing a word of the language, these trafficked women now face the same kinds of violence as other Indian women.

Help Mitu Protect Her Twins: Please Sign This Petition

Barbara Raisbeck — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:55:17 +0000

From Gender Bytes

Hello friends,

This is an emergency situation! We are rallying public support for Dr. Mitu Khurana’s legal fight to protect her 5-year old twin girls from their father. Her case is outlined below. Please sign her petition and circulate it. A copy will be sent to the appropriate offices in Delhi as evidence of public support for her case.

Click here for the petition

Mitu first posted her story on 50 Million Missing’s discussion/support forum about 2 years ago. This is the link for her case where we kept supporters updated on her situation. The relevance of Mitu’s case is monumental in light of India’s systematic annihilation of millions of its daughters.

Within the first few months of her marriage when Mitu was pregnant with twins, her husband and his family colluded with the hospital to secretly determine the gender of the fetuses. They were told she was expecting girls. Her husband and in-laws thereafter started pressurizing her to have an abortion. While it is routine for pregnant women to undergo ultrasound, it is illegal for doctors and hospitals in India to reveal the sex of the fetus during these tests. Despite this law, called the PC&PNDT (Pre-Conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Test), it is estimated that in India more than a million potential daughters are selectively eliminated before birth each year, sometimes late in the pregnancy so the family can be sure that they are getting rid of a daughter and not a precious son!

Mitu’s case also challenges the assumption that it is poverty and lack of education that is driving this daughter-annihilation. Like Mitu, her husband too is a medical doctor, from a well-do family, and various other members from his family are also doctors! In deed the largest gender ratio gap in India is among the educated, well-to-do, middle and upper classes. It is not that they cannot afford to raise girls, they just don’t want girls!

Mitu’s case is not unique. Thousands of young, married Indian women are tortured, tormented, and forced into aborting their daughters, often late in the pregnancy, at great risk to their own health and lives. Mitu however refused to submit. Thereupon, her husband and mother-in-law subject her to various forms of abuse to induce an abortion.

Visit Gender Bytes to read the article in it’s entirety.

बेटियों को बचाने के लिए पति से भिड़ गई वो!

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:53:56 +0000

बेटियों को बचाने के लिए पति से भिड़ गई वो!

नई दिल्ली। कन्या भ्रूण हत्या के खिलाफ बना कानून आज भी सिर्फ वक्तव्यों और भाषणों में ही सुनाई देता है। सिटिजन जर्नलिस्ट डॉ मीतू खुराना इस कानून के तहत शिकायत दर्ज करने वाली पहली महिला हैं। इसकी वजह से इनका नाम लिम्का बुक ऑफ रिकॉर्ड में भी दर्ज हुआ। दिल्ली की रहने वाली मीतू की दो बच्चियां गुड़्डु और परी आज से 4 साल इस दुनिया में नहीं आती अगर इनकी मां इनके लिए ढाल ना बनी होती। इन्हें जन्म लेने से पहले ही मारने की तैयारी थी और वह शख्स कोई और नहीं खुद इनके पिता थे। 2004 में मीतू खुराना की शादी एक पढ़े लिखे परिवार में हुई। पति पेशे से डॉक्टर थे। शादी के बाद 2005 में जब वो गर्भवती हुईं तो मालूम हुआ कि वो जुड़वा बच्चों की मां बनने वाली हैं।
मीतू के मुताबिक-मेरे पति और मेरे सास, ससुर खुश होने के बजाए उनके पर सेक्स डेटरमिनेशन टेस्ट करवाने के लिए दबाव बनाने लगे क्योंकि वो जानना चाहते थे कि गर्भ में बेटा है या बेटी? जब मीतू ने टेस्ट के लिए मना किया तो उन्होंने उसे प्रताड़ित करना शुरु कर दिया। एक दिन तबियत ज्यादा खराब होने पर मीतू के पति और सास उसे अस्पताल ले गए जहां गायनेकेलॉजिस्ट डॉक्टरों ने जांच कर केयूबी (किडनी, यूरेटर, ब्लैडर) अल्‍ट्रासाउंड करने की सलाह दी। लेकिन ससुराल वालों ने धोखे से नीतू का फीटल अल्‍ट्रासाउंड किया।

अल्ट्रासाउंड में जब उन्हें पता चला कि नीतू के गर्भ में दो बेटियां हैं, तो वो उसके ऊपर और जुल्म करने लगे। गर्भ गिराने के लिए नीतू पर दबाव बढ़ने लगा, लेकिन वो अपनी बेटियों को जन्म देना चाहती थी। जब नीतू के माता पिता को इस बारे में पता चला तो वो उसे अपने घर ले आए। यहीं रहते हुए नीतू ने 11 अगस्त 2005 को दो प्यारी बेटियों को जन्म दिया। 2008 में नीतू के पति ने उसपर तलाक के लिए दबाव बनाया ताकि वह दूसरी शादी कर सके, और उससे बेटा पैदा करे। लेकिन नीतू ने तलाक देने से इनकार कर दिया और मायके आ गई। समझौते के तमाम प्रयासों के नाकाम हो जाने पर दो साल पहले नीतू ने वूमेन कमीशन, स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय और अल्ट्रासाउंड करने वाले जयपुर गोल्डन अस्पताल के साथ ही अपने ससुराल वालों के खिलाफ शिकायत दर्ज करवाई। उसके बाद उसने 9 मई 2008 को PCPNDT के तहत CDMO नॉर्थ वेस्ट को शिकायत की।

21 मई को नीतू ने एक आरटीआई डाली जिसमें उसने अपनी शिकायत पर हुई कार्रवाई का ब्योरा मांगा। आरटीआई में जवाब दिया गया कि जयपुर गोल्डन अस्पताल में रेड के दौरान पता चला कि जो अल्ट्रासाउंड हुआ था उसका फॉर्म F नहीं भरा गया था। उसके बाद इस मामले पर एक जांच कमेटी बिठाई गयी। जिसमें सारे सबूत होते हुए भी ये फैसला दिया गया कि सेक्स डेटरमिनेशन टेस्ट का कोई सबूत नहीं है जबकि कानून कहता है कि जिस अस्पताल या क्लिनिक में अल्ट्रसाउंड के दौरान फॉर्म एफ नहीं मिलेगा वो सेक्स डिटरमिनेशन टेस्ट का दोषी माना जाएगा। जांच कमेटी की इस रिपोर्ट के खिलाफ नीतू ने स्वास्थ मंत्री किरण वालिया से शिकायत की जिसके बाद उन्होंने एक और जांच कमेटी को जांच के आदेश दिए। दूसरी जांच कमेटी ने ये माना कि किसी ने भी फेटल अल्ट्रासाउंड नहीं मांगा था। सितंबर 2008 को एप्रोप्रिएट एथॉरिटी की एक मीटिंग हुई जिसमें ये फैसला लिया गया कि जयपुर गोल्डन अस्पताल को एक वार्निंग देकर छोड़ दिया जाए।

18 अक्तबूर को नीतू ने कानून के तहत CDMO को एक लीगल नोटिस भेजा जिसमें उसने 15 दिनों बाद अपने कोर्ट में जाने का जिक्र किया। इसके बाद CDMO ने डाइरेक्टर ऑफ प्रोसिक्यूशन को चिट्ठी लिखी और 19 जनवरी को जयपुर गोल्डन के डायरेक्टर के खिलाफ केस फाइल कर दिया गया। जयपुर गोल्डन के डायरेक्ट के खिलाफ लोअर कोर्ट ने कॉगनिजेंस ले ली और उसके खिलाफ जयपुर गोल्डन अस्पताल हाई कोर्ट चला गया। कानून ये कहता है कि टेस्ट करवाने वाला और उसमें शामिल होने वाला हर व्यक्ति उतना ही दोषी है जितना कि टेस्ट करने वाला। लेकिन उसके बावजूद अभी तक नीतू के पति और सासुराल वालों के खिलाफ कोई कार्यवाई नहीं की गई है। इसलिए नीतू ने इन लोगों के खिलाफ निचली अदालत में केस दर्ज कर दिया है।
नीतू बताती हैं कि अपनी इस लड़ाई के दौरान वे जान चुकी हैं कि कानून कितना लाचार है और किस तरह से इस व्यवस्था में काम किया जाता है। ऐसे कई क्लिनिक है जहां लिंग परीक्षण जांच का धंधा जोरों से चल रहा है। लेकिन सरकार उनके आगे कितनी बेबस हैं इसका पता मुझे अपनी दूसरी आरटीआई के जरिए मालूम पड़ा। नीतू कहती हैं कि मुझे पता चला कि दिल्ली में क्लिनिक ‘फॉर्म एफ’ ना भरे जाने के कारण, रिकॉर्ड ठीक से ना रखे जाने के कारण या तो सील कर दिए जातें हैं, उन्हें वार्निंग देकर या एफिडेविट देकर छोड़ दिया जाता है जो कानून के खिलाफ है।
ये बात तो सिर्फ एक ही शहर की है लेकिन पूरे भारत में लिंग परीक्षण जांच का ये धंधा खूब फल फूल रहा है जिसकी वजह से हर साल एक करोड़ से भी ज्यादा भ्रूण हत्याएं हो रही है और ये सब पुलिस प्रशासन की नाक के नीचे फल फूल रहा है। इसके खिलाफ कानून तो बना दिए लेकिन उसको लागू कराने में सरकार भी नाकाम है ये इसका पता इसी बात से चलते है कि 15 साल इस कानून को बने हुए हो गए लेकिन शिकायत करने वाली सिर्फ मैं एक अकेली महिला हूं।

CITIZEN JOURNALIST ON FEMALE FETICIDE

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:25:39 +0000

Dr Mitu Khurana citizen journalist for IBN7 reporting on female feticide and lack of implementation of P.C-P.N.D.T act

बीबीसी विशेष: कैसी आज़ादी

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:45:22 +0000

बीबीसी विशेष: कैसी आज़ादी

पारुल अग्रवाल
बीबीसी संवाददाता, दिल्ली

भारत की आज़ादी की 63वीं सालगिरह पर बीबीसी आप तक पहुंचा रहा है कुछ विशेष कहानियाँ.

कहानियां कुछ ऐसे लोगों की जो लगातार इस सवाल का जवाब ढूंढने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं कि क्या वो वाकई आज़ाद हैं ?

हमारे जन्म पर मातम न हो…

”मेरा नाम रागिनी है (परिवर्तित नाम). मैं पेशे से एक डॉक्टर हूं. हम भले ही 63 साल से आज़ादी मना रहे हों लेकिन भारत में जिन बेटियों को जन्म लेने का भी हक नहीं, उनके लिए आज़ादी के कोई मायने नहीं हैं.

जनवरी 2005 में जब मैं गर्भवती हुई तो मेरे पति ने मेरी मर्ज़ी के ख़िलाफ मेरा गर्भ परीक्षण करवाया. पता चला कि मेरे गर्भ में जुड़वां लड़कियां है. ऐसे में मेरे पति जो ख़ुद एक डॉक्टर हैं, ने मुझसे कहा कि मैं तुरंत गर्भपात करवा लूं.

मैंने अपनी बेटियों की हत्या करने से मना कर दिया. इस गलती की सज़ा के तौर पर कई दिनों तक मुझे भूखा रखा गया. मुझे पानी भी नहीं दिया जाता था. इन ज़्यादतियों के बीच चार महीने बीत गए. एक दिन पति ने मुझे सीढ़ियों से धक्का दे दिया. काफ़ी खून बहने के बावजूद अस्पताल ले जाने कि बजाय मुझे एक कमरे में बंद कर दिया गया. पति चाहते थे कि किसी तरह मेरा गर्भपात हो जाए.

जन्म पर मातम

अपनी अजन्मी बेटियों की जान को ख़तरा देखते हुए मैं अपने मायके आ गई. 11 अगस्त को मेरी बेटियों का जन्म हुआ और पति के काफ़ी कहने पर मैं उनके घर आ गई. लेकिन अब मुझ पर दबाव बनाया जाने लगा कि मैं एक बच्ची को गोद दे दूं. दो साल बीत गए और एक दिन पति ने मुझे घर से निकाल दिया.

इसके बाद मैंने ‘प्री नेटल डायगनॉस्टिक टेकनीक्स एक्ट’ (पीएनडीटी एक्ट) के तहत अपने पति के ख़िलाफ रिपोर्ट दर्ज कराई. ये कानून कहता है कि गर्भ में लिंग परीक्षण कराना गैर कानूनी है.

कानून भले ही कहता है कि भारत में औरतों को बराबरी का हक़ मिलना चाहिए, उन्हें इज़्ज़त मिलनी चाहिए लेकिन हमारी व्यवस्था और उसके लोग इन कानूनों पर अमल नहीं करते.

समाज की पुरुषवादी सोच मुझे अपने हक के लिए लड़ने नहीं देती. ये सोच कहती है कि गलती मेरी है कि मैंने गर्भपात नहीं कराया और अपने पति के हाथों बेटियों को मरने नहीं दिया. रागिनी (परिवर्तित नाम)

समाज की पुरुषवादी सोच मुझे अपने हक के लिए लड़ने नहीं देती. ये सोच कहती है कि गलती मेरी है कि मैंने गर्भपात नहीं कराया और अपने पति के हाथों बेटियों को मरने नहीं दिया.

निगरानी समिती के एक चिकित्सा अधिकारी ने ख़ुद मुझसे कहा कि मैं अपने पति के पास वापस चली जाऊं और बेटे को जन्म देने के लिए एक बार फिर कोशिश करूं.

औरतों के लिए आज़ादी का तब तक कोई मतलब नहीं होगा जब तक उनकी पैदाइश पर मातम मनाया जाएगा.”

“Not without my daughters”

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 03:12:21 +0000

Even before they were born, paediatrician, Dr Mitu Khurana, had to fight hard to save her twin daughters from death. She talks to Purabi Shridhar about her battle against her husband, her in-laws and female foeticide

“I married Dr Kamal Khurana, an orthopaedician in Delhi, in November 2004. It was an arranged match. Though engaged for nine months, we hardly met, as his family claimed to be conservative. Strangely, soon after the engagement his sisters sent me an SMS saying she hated me. He said she was depressed and everything would be fine. If only I’d known what was in store for me.”

‘They told me to abort’
“In January 2005, I became pregnant. An ultrasound in the sixth week showed I was carrying twins. My husband, at first, was elated, but then my mother-in-law started pressurising me for a sex determination test and he went along with her. I refused, but I hadn’t bargained for their deception.

“In April, I was offered some cake, which was apparently eggless. I am strongly allergic to eggs and they knew it. I ate it and got very sick. I passed the night in pain and was taken to the Jaipur Golden Hospital only the next morning-this, even though I was undergoing antenatal check-ups at another hospital. My husband and mother-in-law came with me. Only 16 weeks pregnant, I was taken to the labour room. The gynaecologist advised a KUB (kidney, urethra and bladder) ultrasound, but the radiologist did a foetal ultrasound and advised me to leave. When I pointed out that no KUB had been done, he hurriedly did one.”

‘He pushed me down the stairs’
“The ultrasound showed the twins were girls. My husband and mother-in-law demanded I terminate the pregnancy. In fact, she insisted I abort one child in-utero. I was kept without food and water and incredible as it sounds, my husband demanded a DNA test as an astrologer had said that he would only father one son!

“Around the fourth month, my husband pushed me down a flight of stairs. I started bleeding and was locked in a room. They hoped I’d abort naturally. I managed to call my father in the morning, who told my husband to bring me to their place or he would get the police to do it. My husband gave in. I was prescribed complete bed rest and had to undergo multiple hospitalisations. My daughters were born on August 11, nearly two months premature.

“My in-laws didn’t visit us for nine months. My mother-in-law was sure the girls wouldn’t survive. And when they did, she wanted me to give one up for adoption. My sister agreed to adopt one and the adoption papers were drawn up, but I just couldn’t do it. My father then took a decision-if I wanted to go back I could, but he wouldn’t let me take the girls.”

‘She kicked the baby’
“While pregnant, I’d filed a police case saying I feared for my life and those of my unborn babies. When the girls were four months old, my husband came to take us, assuring us that all would be fine. Another lie! I was left to manage single-handedly. Tired and fed up, on the third day, I decided to go back to my parents’. I came out with one girl in my arms and the other strapped in a baby basket, which my mother-in-law kicked down the stairs. My daughter survived, thanks to the straps and blankets. Fearing for our lives, I filed a criminal case against my husband. He was summoned by the police, at which point, he gave a written assurance that there would be no torture and no forced prenatal sex determination tests in future.

“Two years later, my husband and I moved away, into a rented place, in the hope it would help. But the same night, he threw me out saying he wanted a divorce, so he could remarry and father a son. I called my uncle who lived nearby. We went to the police station, where they refused to file an FIR and made us sit for hours. It was when I threatened to go to the media that they gave in. No action was taken, so I went to the police commissioner who set up a vigilance committee. Nothing has come of it.”

‘The CDMO told me to try again for a son!’
“While shifting, I found the Jaipur Golden Hospital discharge papers and reports. I filed a complaint with the Health Minister and the National Commission for Women. On May 9,2008, I filed a complaint with the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (PNDT) Cell and an RTI application to follow up. In June, I got a reply saying the Central Monitoring Committee and the District Appropriate Authority had raided the hospital and found evidence of Form F-mandatory records clinics and hospitals have to keep of every woman who has undergone pre-natal diagnostic procedures as specified in the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, which prohibits sex selection.

“When I appeared before the District Appropriate Authority, the chief district medical officer (CDMO) actually advised me to reconcile with my husband, so I could get pregnant again and have a son! I was told that sealing ultrasound facilities at the hospital would hinder diagnosis of other patients. The enquiry committee report said no direct evidence of sex determination was found.

“Meeting the joint secretary of health and family welfare (central government) proved useless. I was told to file a case under the Domestic Violence Act. So I filed a private complaint under the PCPNDT Act against Jaipur Golden Hospital, the doctor, my husband and in-laws. But the authorities only registered a case against the hospital.

“I get threats saying I’ll be killed or my daughters kidnapped. I had to quit my job because of the pressure. But I will not withdraw the case! I fought to save my girls and I’m the first woman in Delhi to have filed a case under PCPNDT. I’m determined to see justice meted out.”

If you were her
Dr Mitu Khurana is determined to fight back. With strong parental support she is not giving in to pressure. If you have been pressured into undergoing a sex determination test, or know someone who has, here’s what you can do.

It is not your word against theirs
Bijayalaxmi Nanda, campaign coordinator, Campaign Against Pre-Birth Elimination of Females (CAPF), says, “The PCPNDT Act makes sex determination and sex selection a non-bailable offence. A victim can approach the designated authority, usually the District Collector or the Chief District Medical Officer.”

If you are unable to reach the appropriate authority, approach the PCPNDT cell of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the state government, the nearest police station or a women’s organisation like CAPF.

Kirti Singh, a women’s rights advocate, says, “The PCPNDT Act specifies authorities you can file complaints with. Do it immediately; follow it up and see that a case is filed.It then goes to a magistrate’s court for hearing.” Provide whatever evidence you have. “Do not think it’s your word against the culprit’s and nothing will come of it,” advises Kirti, “Your case will be taken up. There are lawyers’ bodies and organisations that will help if authorities don’t take any action.”

Challenge the track record
According to Kirthi Jayakumar of Fight-back, Chennai-an anti-gender violence organisation, “Do not give up. Instead, lobby for support. Take the help of the media and NGOs.” Kirthi admits that the implementation record for the PCPNDT Act is pathetic, and advises filing a case, directly appealing to the courts under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Go public
Sonali Khan, communications manager, Breakthrough, Delhi, thinks, “It’s not going to be easy for Mitu. She is taking on a big hospital, apart from her husband and in-laws. Every hospital has a huge sign against sex determination tests, which means we can’t ask for it and they are bound not to tell us. It is a punishable offence.”

Sonali suggests going public so more people know what’s happening and those putting insidious pressure will be warned. “She should approach human rights and women’s organisations, so she has more support than just from the family. She shouldn’t succumb to pressure and withdraw the case,” says Sonali.

Know your ultrasound
Can a pregnant woman avoid all medical examinations that may reveal the sex of the foetus? Unfortunately not, says Dr Juhee Jain, consultant gynaecologist, Fortis La Femme, Delhi, because at least two ultrasounds are crucial to determine the health and normality of the foetus. “If, during the ultrasound, the sex of the child is known, the person conducting the ultrasound should refuse to declare it. Sadly, that is not always so.”

As per the PCPNDT Act, Form F has to be filled out, stating the reasons for the ultrasound as well as the findings, and sent within a month to the authorities. “For the health of the unborn baby, refusing ultrasounds is inadvisable,” says Dr Juhee. “The only thing that can work is conscience-of the parents and of the person conducting the ultrasound.”

HELPLINES

Central PNDT
Website: http://pndt.gov.in
Call: 01123063523

Campaign against Pre-birth Elimination of Females (CAPF)
Call: 9891443469
Email: capfdelhi@gmail.com

All India Democratic Women’s Association
15, Talkotara Road, New Delhi
Call: 01123710476, 01123319566
Email: aidwacec@gmail.com and
aidwa@rediffmail.com

Lawyers Collective
www.lawyerscollective.org
Call: Mumbai-02222875482/83, 02222832779
Delhi-01124377101/2, 01124372237
Bangalore-08041239130/1

Photography: Madhu Kapparath

Pearls Wave Function

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:53:24 +0000

Walk for India's Missing Girls

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:47:08 +0000

The Petals In The Dust team is organizing the Walk for India’s Missing Girls, a protest march against female infanticide and feticide in India that will take place on March 6 in San Francisco, part of an international effort to end the killing of baby girls in India.

Marches are also scheduled for Delhi, Mumbai, Pondicherry, Dublin, Melbourne, Ontario and in Kuwait.

-In the last century, 50 Million girls have been killed, either before or after they were born.

-In some regions of India, the female to male ratio is as low as 500 to 1000..

- Even in 2010, females are still considered a burden by many families

Why are these horrific crimes against women being ignored? Where is the public outcry? Where is the media attention?

Come join us in this global Walk on March 6, 2010, two days before International Women’s Day and help us let the world know about this Gender Holocaust, so we can work together to save India’s girls.

We hope to make this walk an international and annual event till female foeticide and infanticide is erradicated.

Details of Walk in the different cities

San Francisco
Date: 6 March 2010
Time : 11AM
Location : Starts in front of the the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate park.
Ends at the Indian Embassy, 540 Arguello Boulevard, San Francisco

Mumbai
Fight-Back is organizing a walk in Mumbai on Date:March, 6. 2010.
Time: 11AM
Location : Starts at Nariman Point and ends at Nirmala Niketan College, Churchgate.

Delhi
Date: March 6
Time: 9:30AM
Location: Starts at the India Gate and ends at Jantar Mantar in Connaught Place.

Jamshedpur
Date: 7th March 2010
Time: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Starts at Golmuri Welfare Centre (attached to the Roman Catholic Cathedral and Bishop’s House ) and will return to Golmuri Center for discussions on female foeticide, infanticide, trafficking and domestic violence.

Kuwait
Date: March 6 2010
Time: 5PM
Kuwait Church, Rear Exit (Grotto Gate)
Saturday, March 6 at 5:00pm

Dublin
Date: March 6 2010
Time: 11AM
Location: Starts at St. John the Baptist Church, Clontarf Rd, Dublin 3 and ends at the Bull Wall.

Pondicherry
Date: March 6 2010
Time: 10:30AM
Location: Starts at Pondicherry University & ends at Auroville

Ontario
Location, Time TBD

Come join the Walk for India’s Missing Girls – be a Voice for the women of India.

This will be a silent march but feel free to bring signs that will create awareness of female foeticide and infanticide in India and support the victims . Please spread the word to your friends and to anyone who would support this cause – invite them to be fans of this page. The larger the turnout at the walk the more awareness we can create about India’s female genocide.

Delhi Doctor's Fight To Save Her Twin Girls From Husband

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:45:08 +0000

Delhi Doctor’s Fight To Save Her Twin Girls From Husband

Dr Mitu Khurana is frightened. She wants to save her twin girls Guddu and Pari from her husband, who had tried to force her to abort the babies. Now, the husband has sought custody of the girls from the court. Only 15 days remain for the custody hearing about the twins, reports Mid Day.

Dr Mitu Khurana first made headlines two years ago when she filed an FIR under the Pre- Conception and Pre- Natal Diagnostic Techniques ( PC- PNDT) act.

According to her complaint, her husband Dr Kamal Khurana had tricked her into going to the Jaipur Golden Hospital, and made the doctors conduct a fetal ultrasound, which showed that she was pregnant with twin girls.

She was then allegedly forced to abort the babies but refused to do so. After being turned out of her home in March 2008, she filed the case against her husband, her inlaws and the hospital.

As she counts down to the custody hearing on February 20 at the Tis Hazari district court, she can’t help but be worried.

“My children are doing so well. Just yesterday Guddu won a drawing competition.

Both my girls are doing so well at the kindergarten. My family has been my biggest support. But I can’t still help but be afraid. What if the judgment is not in my favour? My girls will be dead the moment they step into that house. My husband never wanted them in the first place,” said Khurana.

She is unemployed after she quit work from a government hospital, alleging harassment from her co- workers and the management.“ I have fought to keep them alive. I will now fight to see them live their lives with dignity,” she said.

The doctor has the support of a Mumbai based NGO WAVE that works for the upliftment of women who are victims of mental and physical torture.

Ashi Dua, partner, Flying Unicorn Entertainment, said that if Khuranas husband gets custody, it would negate everything the doctor has fought against. “

Dr Khurana sought to fight her husband and his parents rather than let them force her into an abortion.

She is also the first woman in Delhi to have filed a case against her husband and his parents under the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act after they fraudulently obtained information about the sex of the babies she was carrying and pressurised her to abort the foetuses.

In October last year , the court upheld her petition and allowed her to keep custody of the twin girls.

Dr. Mitu Khurana: an update

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:54:47 +0000

Dr. Mitu Khurana: an update
by Rumbold 3rd February, 2010

Dr. Mitu Khurana’s final court date for custody of her children is approaching. Some of you may remember Mitu’s story, but for those who don’t, I have added in background detail.

Dr. Mitu Khurana is a brave woman. She struggled against her husband and her in-laws years ago when she was pregnant. They slipped eggs into her food, knowing she was allergic to them. Other times they denied her food and water. Her crime? To have become pregnant with two daughters and refused to abort them. In August 2005 she gave birth, but the pressure did not stop. It was suggested that she give her children up for adoption, while her mother-in-law once shoved her then four month old daughter down the stairs.

In March 2008 Dr. Mitu was thrown out of her house by her husband, who is also a doctor. The next month she went back to their home only to discover that while ill (and in hospital), doctors had illegally performed a test to determine the sex of the foetus. Sex determination tests are illegal in India, as a response to the major imbalance between the sexes. There are 107 men for every 100 women in India, which translates to a gap of tens of millions. This is largely the result of abortion and the killing of female children. Many women go along with these tests, or even instigate them, but Dr. Mitu did not stay silent. She spoke out and filed a complaint with the Women’s Commission and various NGOs, and became the first woman to file a complaint under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act in Delhi.

Her case soon became a cause celebre and was widely covered in the Indian media. Yet she still fears for the safety of her daughters. As Rita Banerji, the founder and chief administrator of The 50 Million Missing: A Campaign Against India’s Female Genocide (an NGO) pointed out to me:

It is interesting that when the media in India covers Mitu’s case they hover around the hospital gates or her in-laws house. The logical thing to do would be to go to the courts and the government offices for those are the offices with authority to implement laws and book violators. But the media does not approach them — and the reason I am told is that the government does not want to answer to cases like this!

Since Dr. Mitu launched her case, she has been harassed and has had to fight every step of the way in order to get the authorities to do what they are supposed to. When she spoke to a senior official he tried to stop her:

Before filing the case I had met Dr Puneet Bedi, a member of the Core Monitoring Committee. He did not take me seriously. Also, he warned me that if I file a case, the concerned hospital, where the sex determination was done without my knowledge, would threaten and offer me bribes and I would be forced to settle the case with my husband and close it.

Some politicians in Delhi are sympathetic, but she still has to struggle against a mentality that values boys over girls. Her husband and his family have yet to be charged with anything, and her daughters are still at risk. A high court judge even tried to get her to reconcile with her husband, despite the threat of violence against her children. Other people, including some workmates, have also encouraged her to drop the case. One person told her to continue to get pregnant until she has a son for her husband.

Now her husband and in-laws are after her daughters. For a long while they wanted nothing to do with the young girls, but late last year her husband filed a custody case. Dr. Mitu believes that they only want custody as a way of putting pressure on her to drop her other cases. Her daughters currently live with her, and the case will be decided on 20th February. If the court rules in favour of the father, Dr. Mitu fears she will never see her daughters alive again.

To support Mitu, please contact the Indian embassy to make your views known, or leave messages on this website.

Not Without My Daughters

Barbara Raisbeck — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:23:24 +0000

Mitu Khurana‘s story published in the Indian magazine Femina – Dec. 30, 2009 issue

Not Without My Daughters

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:23:05 +0000

From Femina – Dec. 30, 2009 issue