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We are aware that female foeticide cannot be accepted in civilized society. But yet we Jains have also become a part of this shameful and ignoble system. Some of us are in fact actively promote the son-obsession of this sick society of ours by knowing the sex of the unborn child and selectively aborting female foetuses.
The low female sex ratio among the Jain community, which hails from a belt where such imbalance is pronounced in the country, should be reversed
says all the prominent jain leaders of the jain society. The record shows that what is called the sex ratio, or the number of females for a thousand males, fell to 927 according to the 1991 census, as compared to 972 per 1,000 in the 1961 census. 2001 census shows the sex ratio as 933, a marginal
improvement. Bare figures eloquently tell us a ghastly and gory story of the mysterious disappearance of millions of women ( 40-50 million).
The more shocking news when we realise that at the beginning of this century, in 1901 to be precise, the sex ratio was 1,072 women for every 1,000 men. What should sadden us even further is that in certain states the scenario is startling. In states like Madhya
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana , Punjab and Rajasthan the sex ratio has plummeted to around 850 women for every 1,000 men. In specific communities of Bihar and Rajasthan the ratio is a mere 600 females for 1,000 males. The sex ratio of 933 to 1000 shown by the 2001 census in India is among
the lowest in the whole world. Even among the privileged upper middle and upper classes, where the
resources for comfortable upbringing are not a problem, the second girl child is aborted in nearly 20 per cent of the cases, and the third girl child in 80 per cent of the pregnancies.
Jain community is making valuable contributions to the cause of promoting the great ideals and values cherished by
our 24 tirthankars. We the jain society follower of
ahimsa are always against to female foeticide and infanticide. Then why Jain samaj is in forefront of this crime??.
We should always follow the religion of ahimsa and strongly
oppose the female foeticide in not only in our society but
the whole world.
In a show of unity, several religious leaders pledged to launch a nationwide movement for the abolition of female
foeticide. Condemning the increasing ``inhuman and shameful'' practice of female
foeticide, they said: ``At this national convention of religious leaders, we all take oath that we would use all resources at our command to propagate to the masses to shun the atrocious act of female foeticide in our country.''
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The National Convention of Religious Leaders on Abolition of
Female Foeticide and Infanticide was organised by the Indian Medical Association, the UNICEF and the National Commission for Women in the context of the alarming decline of female population, as indicated in the latest Census. Prominent religious leaders at the convention included the Shankaracharya of
Kanchi, Sri Jayendra Saraswati; Imam Maulana Abdul Aziz Jafar from New Delhi; the Jain leader, Upadhyay Guptisagarji; the Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri
Masjid, Maulana Mufti Mukarram; Ramakrishna Mission's Swami
Jitatmananda, the Arya Samaj leader, Swami Agnivesh; the head priest of Delhi Parsi
Anjuman, Ervad Cawas Daraius Bagli; the vice-president of Bahai faith, Dr. A. K. Merchant, and Sadhvi
Ritambara.
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They said
female foeticide was responsible for the lowest existing sex ratio of 933 females per 1,000 males.
Among the various reasons attributed to female foeticide was the dowry system. ``There should be social awakening against dowry system.''
Seventeen laws on female foeticide had failed to make an impact so far. ``Social awareness cannot be achieved by Government alone. Our experience shows that the issues taken up by religious leaders help a lot in social awareness,'' Dr. Joshi said. The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila
Dikshit, said ``they (the religious leaders) have a much wider and permanent impact on the people's
mindset.'' Commenting on the convention, the IMA honorary secretary, Dr. Sanjiv
Malik, said the pledge taken by the religious leaders would now find a place in their discourses in various parts of the country. |
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