I am shocked to learn of the sharp decline of number of girls in India.

From the Beti Zindabad! Campaigners, I came to know that Child Sex Ratio in the country now stands at 914, which is the worst since Independence. 

I have also learnt that laws are being flouted openly and the governments are completely apathetic to the stringent implementation of the PCPNDT Act, 1994 that could prevent sex-selective discrimination and elimination of girls. The honourable Supreme Court of India has also intervened in the matter, but strong steps need to be taken by the government to ensure that perpetrators of this form of discrimination and sex-selection be brought to justice. 

I appeal to you to hold the government and the monitoring bodies accountable, and show that the Indian state is not complicit in the crime of sex selection, and that it would not tolerate this any further.  

At my end, I promise you that in my family, neighbourhood or places that I have access to, I will not be party to any form of discrimination or violence either implicitly or explicitly. I will work against the dowry system, and be part of all mobilisations which work for gender equality, because that, I believe, will be the bedrock of a more just and caring society.

ActionAid India