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Why Was She Killed Before Birth? A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Lost Innocence
She never saw the sky.
She never opened her eyes.
She never cried or smiled — yet she existed.
But even before she could take her first breath, they ended her story.
This is not just one story. It is the silent scream of thousands of unborn daughters across India — children who were killed before birth simply because they were girls.
🔸 The Tragedy of Unborn Daughters
India has made progress in many areas — technology, economy, and education. But somewhere deep in its villages, towns, and even cities, a deadly tradition still exists: female foeticide.
Despite strict laws and awareness campaigns, lakhs of girls are aborted every year, just because they are female.
It often begins after a simple visit to the doctor — a routine ultrasound during pregnancy. While sex determination is illegal in India, the reality is that it still happens behind closed doors. And when the results show it's a girl, many families, under pressure, choose termination.
But why?
🔸 The Roots of Gender Discrimination
The answer lies in social conditioning and deep-rooted patriarchy:
- Dowry fear: Girls are still seen as a financial burden due to the dowry system.
- “Paraya Dhan” thinking: A girl will one day marry and leave — she is not considered a long-term support for parents.
- Preference for sons: Sons carry the family name, are expected to support parents in old age, and perform religious rites.
Even educated families fall into this mindset, driven by societal expectations and family pressures.
🔸 One Story, Many Tears
Anjali (name changed) was just 25. Newly married, excited to become a mother. When she found out she was pregnant, her joy knew no bounds. But things changed after her ultrasound.
Her in-laws, hoping for a boy, were disappointed.
Days later, she was taken to a small clinic on the outskirts of town. Her husband said, “It’s better for our future.” She didn’t understand. Before she knew it, the baby was gone.
Her daughter — her first child — never even got a name.
Anjali now lives in silence. Her eyes are full of questions:
“What had she done wrong? Why wasn’t she allowed to live?”
🔸 The Law Exists — But Is It Enough?
India’s Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act bans sex determination and sex-selective abortions.
Anyone found guilty can face jail time and heavy fines.
Yet, implementation is weak, and many clinics continue to break the law under the radar. Fake documents, hush money, and medical loopholes protect them.
The child sex ratio (number of girls per 1,000 boys) has improved in some areas, but in others, it’s dangerously low. In certain states, it’s as low as 850 girls for every 1,000 boys — a clear sign of imbalance.
🔸 A Future in Danger
When girls are killed before birth, it doesn’t just affect families — it affects the entire society:
- Gender imbalance leads to fewer women, more crimes, and forced marriages.
- Emotional trauma haunts mothers and sisters forever.
- A nation loses its daughters, its strength, its future.
Imagine a world without sisters, daughters, or mothers. That is the world we are unknowingly creating.
🔸 What Can Be Done?
- Strong Legal Action: Governments must strictly enforce the law and shut down illegal clinics.
- Awareness Campaigns: Rural and urban areas need continuous education on the value of daughters.
- Empowering Women: Education, financial freedom, and rights awareness can help mothers say “No” to pressure.
- Celebrate Daughters: More schemes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao must be promoted with real results.
Conclusion
She never got to cry, laugh, or live.
All because society decided she didn’t deserve to.
It’s time we ask ourselves:
Are we ready to break this cycle? Or will we continue to bury our daughters before birth?
Every girl deserves a chance at life — not to be a victim of a crime she didn’t even understand.
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