'Satyameva Jayate' inspires sarpanch to act against female foeticide

Aamir Khan's highly acclaimed "Satyameva Jayate" has inspired a sarpanch in a Rajasthan village to register police cases against women and families who go for tests to detect and abort the girl child.

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"Illegal sex determination is rampant in the Shekhawati region (Jhunjhunu, Churu and Sikar districts)," sarpanch Randheer Singh of Budania village said.

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The village, some 200 km from here, is home to nearly 5,000 people.

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Randheer Singh said a six-member committee had been formed to keep a tab on pregnant women.

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"After watching Aamir Khan's TV show 'Satyameva Jayate' on female foeticide, I felt that awareness in Rajasthan is not enough," he said.

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"Checking female foeticide at the village level is necessary to save girl children."

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He said that auxiliary nurses and midwives know about almost every pregnant woman in villages.

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"If a woman is found involved in illegal sex determination and abortion of a girl child, an FIR (First Information Report) will be filed against her with the police," Singh said.

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"If she is forced to abort by her in-laws, similar action will be taken against them also," he said.

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According to the 2011 census, Rajasthan has 883 girls in the 0-6 age group for every 1,000 boys. The child sex ratio in 2001 was 909.

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The Rajasthan government has taken several measures to end illegal sex determination tests. It has hiked the amount of money given to people who complain about errant ultrasound clinics.

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Aamir Khan, in his programme telecast May 6 that drew record audiences countrywide, highlighted a sting operation done seven years ago by two journalists to expose growing female foeticide in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

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