Cradles plan for unwanted girls

[Jo]

The Indian government is planning to set up a network of cradles around the country where parents can leave unwanted baby girls.
The Article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6373043.stm)

[Beka]

I'm honestly not sure how i feel on this one- yes it is a good thing in that it may save the lives of the countless babies killed for being girls each year but i also fear it may cause a vast % of women who would have opted to keep their daughter after birth to be pressured into leaving them because they do have the option if this scheme goes ahead- they would be families that would never consider abandonment or killing the child but i fear women would be pressured into this if it was a legitament scheme for leaving a baby this way. Very difficult to call- i think in such a culture as this where there is such a higher value placed on male offspring it will constantly be an uphill struggle to give female off spring "value" until structure of both their society and families change dramatically.

[Jejune]

While I agree with you, Beka, I still have to support the idea. The rate of death by abandonment tends to go down so much when safe, anonymous options are there for women to give up their babies. We have one of those drops near our house, and every time I drive by it, it's hard not to think of the baby who was abandoned just a mile away when that drop box was there. But then I think of all the babies who aren't abandoned because of that box.

[Polly]

Just watch. India will end up like China. Once sex selection slanted totally in favor of one gender, the biological balance of a culture is thrown off. In China, this wonderous achievment was brought about by the one child per family law and the sex selection abortion of female fetuses that followed. Even with a safe place to abandon unwanted female children, India will begin to see the marriage rate drop. Why? The Hindu caste system relies totally on knowing your family's place within the system. Marriage can only take place to someone of your same caste. No family, no caste level. No caste level, no marriage. These women will be totally ineligible for marriage in their own country.

I'm pro-choice but I don't believe people should have abortions in order to select a child's gender. (I understand the difference between selecting male or female embryos for implantation due to medical/genetic concerns and abortion) Bottom line, don't fuck with Mother Nature. She doesn't like it.

Polly

[Beka]

interesting you should mention china Polly- i was reading this lasr night about their gender balance crisis

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6346931.stm