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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Cash offer to one-girl families in Indian state |
| 2005-03-10 |
| EFL Families having a single girl child in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh will be given 100,000 rupees ($2,300) in an attempt to boost the female population. The money will be given to the child when she turns 20, and both parents would have to undergo verified birth control operations. The state government says it is concerned at the falling female-to-male ratio - in 2001 it was 943 to 1,000. State Chief Minister YS Rajashekhar Reddy said there would be several other benefits for families having a single girl child. They include an annual grant of 1,250 rupees for education for the girl in classes nine to 12 (ages 14-17). In case of the death of either parent, the family would get up to 50,000 rupees immediately. The Andhra Pradesh government says it is also planning a major publicity campaign to promote female children. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #4 GT - Nope, not necessarily. Mama might be choosing a son so that her husband won't divorce her (if he's "civilized") or kill her. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-03-10 4:38:51 PM |
| #3 Population growth is not the problem. With modern medical equipment the child can be viewed before birth and the gender can be determined. Such medical services have become a cottage industry in India. In societies like India still with strong agrarian social underpinnings, the families are aborting females and opting for male deliveries. Amazing how this 'choice' is so upsetting for feminists who trumpet a woman's right to choose. Momma is choosing a son to take care of her in her old age. Females are looked upon as a liability with doweries still a common practice let alone other less 'civilized' practices. |
| Posted by: Glereper Thigum7229 2005-03-10 1:09:21 PM |
| #2 I am too lazy to check facts today , but the last time I was in India , its population was growing faster than China's , and will probably surpass it by 2020 . There was a national campaign celebrating this during my stint out there . Its concerning whether the state will be able to keep up with the population growth . That being said , I am in total agreement with Desert Blondie , as any sane person would be Anyway , I have said it before , and will continue to say it , India is a great country with alot happening for it , but it still has a long road to travel down . Bordering Pakistan and China can not be an amusing prospect by anyones standards . And the diversity of culture is not only a great sight but also a small thorn in its side . |
| Posted by: MacNails 2005-03-10 12:01:43 PM |
| #1 Anything that stops the practice of aborting female children is good to me! (But then again, I'm biased. ;) ) |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-03-10 11:51:52 AM |