About 10 mn baby girls killed in India in last 20 yrs: Kiran

Mumbai, Jan 8 (UNI) Nearly 10 million baby girls have been killed in India in the last 20 years and some of its ramifications are manifesting themselves today, said Ms Kiran Gera.

National President of FLO Kiran Gera said this today at a press conference held here. ''In certain areas in Punjab and Haryana young brides are being imported. Much worse brides are being shared by brothers,'' she said.

The press conference was organised for launching, ''Save The Girl Child'' campaign, an all India initiative of FLO-- the womens' wing of FICCI. FLO is partnering with UNFPA, Corporates and the Government. FLO is also coming up with an initiative, ''Phir Wahi Shyam Betiyon ke naam'' on January 19 at the Jamshedji Bhabha here at NCPA to mark the launch of this campaign.

Ms Supriya Sule, Priya Dutt, Smita, Anita Dongre, Yash Chopra, Javed Akhtar, Prasoon Joshi, Sachin Tendulkar and Saira Banu are the resource persons from the city who are supporting this initiative of FLO.

''Unfortunately we tend to have an ostrich like attitude to issues that don't knock at our door directly. We at FLO have been shouting ourselves hoarse about how the ratios are getting dangerously skewed and how this will create major social problems.

What has happened in Juhu recently alas is the sign of times to come,'' said Ms Gera.

According to the final census 2001, in states like Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat and Chandigarh, the ratio has declined to less than 900 girls per 1000 boys. The ratio stands at a mere 771 in Kurukshetra district of Haryana, 836 in Ahmedabad and 846 in the south west district of Delhi even though these regions are the most prosperous in the country.

''The heinous practice of female foeticide and infanticide in our country has become a raging issue today. Sex selection is not about technology. At the heart of the matter is the low status of women in society and the deep rooted prejudices they face right through their life. To get the complete picture, the issue needs to be seen in the context of a patriarchial social framework and a value system based on 'son' preference,'' informed Ms Vinita Bimbhet, Chairperson FLO.

UNI LS SR SV RN1732