India: Government minister proposes new move against sex selection

Women and child development minister Renuka Chowdhury has proposed that all pregnant women register with the government and seek its permission if they want an abortion. 

She says the move is aimed at stopping the aborting of unwanted female fetuses, reports the BBC. However, critics warn that the new move could backfire and be misused.

Ms Chowdhury also wants abortions to be permitted only in specific circumstances, although she did not spell out what these may be. The minister says a register of pregnancies would allow the government to track them and crack down on the practice of feticide, which she says is widespread in parts of northern India.

Despite the ban on prenatal sex determination, the government has been unable to prevent the selective abortion of female fetuses. According to the last national census, for every 1,000 boys, there are 927 girls in India.

But critics say the new move is an infringement on personal freedom and could also be misused.

‘Indian register’ for pregnancies, BBC News, 13 July 2007