The popular English daily newspaper “The New Indian Express”, Friday, dated 19th August 2006, Belgaum edition carried in its front page a investigation report of doctors doing female foeticide in the city. The report also carried the names of seven doctors of Belgaum city, who were doing ultrasound and female foeticide. JAGRUTI – an NGO working in Belgaum district’s Khanapur Taluk – at once became alert and wrote letters to the concerned authorities – which included the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the District Health Officer (DHO) at Belgaum. The women Self Help Group members and the Office Bearers of Cluster Groups also wrote letter to the officers at Belgaum to take action against erring doctors. In spite of repeated letters when neither JAGRUTI nor People Organisations (Self Help Group and Cluster Group office bearers) did not get any satisfactory reply, it was decided to launch a demonstration in Belgaum – by doing a jatha and submitting memorandums and also raising questions with the concerned authorities, regarding as to why actions have not been taken against erring doctors, in spite of their being enough evidence that doctors are involved in illegal activities.
So on 5th October 2006, around 300 mostly women and few men got into three Lorries and reached Belgaum city from the villages to stage a demonstration. Local peoples organisation represented by Sri Shivaji Kagnekar along with a group of 35 men and women from the neighbouring village of Kattanabhavi. Also few staff member and volunteers from the NGO NEEDS at Ranebennur in Haveri Taluk also had come to participate in the demonstration and express solidarity. So in all it was represented by around 350 people.
Before we actually go into as to what happened at Belgaum, it is better to give a background about the grass root situation and the facts and figures in Belgaum district, regarding sex ration. Amongst all the districts in Karnataka, Belgaum has the worst sex ration. The 2001 census reveal that child sex ration of 921 for every 1,000. The average for Karnataka according to the same census is 964 for every 1,000 males. When compared to other states it is still worst. This is so specific to Belgaum because right from conception the girl child is discriminated against all her life. This includes being subjected to foeticide and infanticide and sexual abuse; being weaned from breast feeds earlier than male babies; her nutritional, health, emotional and other needs being given the last priority; having restricted access to education – either not sent to school at all or if sent, not allowed to complete her education in order to look after siblings or do household and other work; and are often married off during adolescence and even childhood.
So it is evident that it is deep in culture of people. The disturbing sex ration has led to increasing violence and rape against women and this already has been observed that there is women’s trafficking occurring in this part of Karnataka. This is compounded by the fact that the number of clinics with ultrasound scanning machines in the small city of Belgaum only reconfirms the lucrativeness of the business. Belgaum city boasts over 60 machines and the entire district of 142. The doctors are also alert now and are careful in choosing the client for foeticide. They would not take the risk of doing it on literate and well to do lady but would readily do the same for an ignorant rural poor village woman.
Being a cultural problem JAGRUTI had encountered and identified the same problems at grass root as well. In spite of the problem of violence against women like dowry tortures, trafficking of women and others, these issues were not to be discussed in the SHG or Cluster Group meetings. All these were NOT for discussion. But an incident made them to start. During the beginning of this year, the women wanted to give a radio programme. So when the team members of JAGRUTI suggested that we shall present a radio programme on the Gender Issue. Initially the women agreed quickly, but only later they realised that they may crossing over into forbidden areas! What would the men folk say? How would they react?
But JAGRUTI team stood firm and did not agree to change the topic. So the women ultimately all agreed. The radio programme got recorded and was telecast as well. The women were happy and they had conquered their own inferiority. This incident reflects the deep rooted value of gender discrimination in the villages and he community.
So even when JAGRUTI suggested that we should organise a jatha in Belgaum, we were not sure as to what would be reaction. This was the first experience of the villagers to such an event. But they came and fully participated in the event. They shouted slogans against the government authorities demanding action against the erring doctors.
The women representatives submitted a memorandum to the deputy Commissioner, Belgaum. The DC promised to take action within ten days. Then the jatha met the District Health Officer, Belgaum and where they again submitted a memorandum. After submitting the same a discussion ensued with the authorities as to why action has not been taken. The authorities cut sorry figure as they did not have answers to the several questions that were raised by the women.
The DHO was also questioned as to the inadequate government health facilities that are available in the Health Centres.
It is nearly a month since the jatha was undertaken but neither JAGRUTI nor the women’s organisations have got any reply from either the DHO or the DC. This is very unfortunate of the entire bureaucracy. On the contrary last week some police constables from Nandgad police station were sent to investigate the number of doctors conducting female foeticide in the remote village of Gundanatti! No doubt the government wants to add one more enquiry report.
JAGRUTI has not closed its options and is still looking for a window to dialogue with the concerned authorities. While acknowledging that female foeticide is rampant and added to it the laws are inadequate the only long term solution is to educate the people.
Date 2nd November 2006.
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