Cradle to the grave

We've got some very smart people running our country. No, really.

India has a disconcerting sex ratio of 933 females per 1000 males. The government is aware of the fact that the reason behind this dilemma is the general indignant attitude of the society towards the girl-child and the resultant uncontrolled & increasing instances of female foeticide. So far, so good.

Guess what! The government has a great solution to this problem – set up cradle services all over India. Instead of killing the girl-child when she's just a foetus, parents can then simply 'deposit' their newborn daughter at one of these government-run cradle services. Wow. The government will take good care of them. You bet. Yes, you're right.

Some fools, like you & I, did tell the government that the scheme might (or might not) decrease foeticide but it will certainly do nothing to curb discrimination against women in India. In fact, it will certify it and, consequently, encourage more families to abandon their daughters.

The powers-that-be say sagely, "It doesn't matter. It is better than killing them."

Such thoughtful people, no? When God was handing out brains, we turned up with sieves, didn't we? But the politicians, they're so intelligent and concerned. They are absolutely right. It is better that those girls live and suffer in those government-run cradle services. They'll be robbed of their futures the same, but at least they will know what they have been really robbed of and who were the perpetrators.

No, no. This one's no hot air. The government is sure to implement this scheme. They must, for a project of such gargantuan magnitude and humanitarian attitude is sure to earn them some brownie points in the next elections.

Before the end of their tenure, they will set up cradle services all over rural India. Then, they will use it to get votes.

If they win, they will promptly appoint some NGOs to take care of the cradle services. (We've been over how nice those NGOs of ours are.)

If they lose, then it becomes the new government's headache. Simple.

You're right, again. Why not reinforce such measures as educating people to treat girls as equals, punishing foeticide practitioners harshly and securing the rights of the girl-child?

Firstly, such long-term solutions will take much longer than the government's tenure in office. And, secondly, such solutions are wimpy. They don't help win elections, now do they?

(First published on Bhéjaa Fry. Read comments by readers here.)