Nowadays, Hindu leaders including Shankaracharyas are talking about increasing population by having four, five or even ten children to strengthen Hindu religion, and to increase vote bank for BJP so that Narendra Modi can continue as the nation’s Prime Minister for longer period of time. Nevertheless, none of these ‘so called’ Hindu ‘subhchintaks’ ever raised their voices against the killings of unborn foetus in this country. If they have ever given these types of ‘Fatwas’ like Muslims then believe me, the population of the community might have automatically shoot up. And these things also could have stopped cruelties against women. India is the country with the highest rate of abortion of young women in the world. There are many reasons including human trafficking, teen age love, unsafe sex, gender bias etc. Because of this, illegal abortion centres are mushrooming in almost every city. When she gets pregnant out of social permissions or wedlocks she turns to these illegal centres for abortions. Abortions not only harms her body but also affects her psychologically. And this mental stress lead her to many other diseases.
Each year, 19 to 20 million women risk their lives by undergoing unsafe abortions, conducted in unsanitary conditions by unqualified practitioners who runs illegal centres. About 50 per cent of the abortion centres are unsafe — an appalling number when one considers that abortions are simple procedures when done correctly. In India, the problem of unsafe abortions is especially acute. There were 6,20,472 reported cases in 2012. Experts say the true number of abortions performed in the country could be as high as 7 million, with two-thirds of them taking place outside authorised health facilities. Abortion doesn’t mean that all aborted pregnancies were out of wedlock. Many unsafe abortions are performed on married women who doesn’t use contraception do not wish to have another child.
In an average, five women die due to wrong abortion in our country in every 10 hours. It seems an extraordinary number until one visit the sorts of locations where abortions take place. India’s expenditure on health care is not adequate. Rural government clinics are often seems nothing more than gaunt brick structures with tin roofs, irregular electricity supply and most unhygienic places. Mostly women lie on old ‘charpie’ (beds) if it is available or you often will see them on mud floors scattered with bloody dressings. Less than 20 per cent of these centers provide legitimate abortion facilities, compelling many rural women to seek alternatives. Most of the rural and urban women are facing health issues after abortions. Even in rural areas, a high profile hospital rarely agrees to perform abortions, because it has been illegal in India since 1971, when the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act was passed. The law is quite liberal, as it aims to reduce illegal abortion and maternal mortality. Indian society is quite conservative and pre-marital sex is taboo. Unmarried women seeking an abortion may be confronted by medical staff with hostile attitudes. An abortion can be performed in India until the 20th week of pregnancy. The opinion of a second doctor is required if the pregnancy is past its 12th week.
If a woman is married, her own written consent is sufficient. Her husband’s consent is not required. If a woman is unmarried and over 18, she can provide her own written consent. If a woman is unmarried and under 18, she must provide written consent from her guardian. If a woman is mentally unstable, she must provide written consent from her guardian. Abortions can be performed in any medical institution that is licensed by the government to perform medically assisted terminations of pregnancy. Such institutions must display a certificate issued by the government. These rules and regulations have to be followed if one has to go through such operations or procedures.
All above parameters are to be followed if the abortion has to be done in recognised hospitals, and to avoid these hitches and consents, woman or couple opt for illegal centres. Mumbai is hub of abortion centres. Many women suffer physically and mentally, no one knows under what circumstances they are taking such brutal steps. They suffer with multiple disorders for life. Ironically, we don’t have much counselling centres for distressed woman as we are seeing abortion centres. We live in a very hypocritical society, where no one wants to take responsibility for other life, but still practice morals.
Vasudevanand Saraswati said every Hindu family should give birth to 10 kids. Sakshi Maharaj said to have four kids and another BJP leader said five kids, but no one has suggested that who will take care of these extra children. The tradition of paying dowry at the time of a daughter’s marriage is alive and kicking. This amount can be so huge that many parents will go to extreme lengths to avoid having a daughter in the first place. A son is seen as someone who can earn and care for his parents in their later years, while a daughter will get married and go away. Many families consider it a status symbol to have a son, and a point of shame to have a daughter. Illiteracy, poverty and the tag of ‘burden’ that is assigned to a girl child, makes the desire for a male child even stronger. They never protested or asked for banning these types of practice. They conveniently ignored killing of girls but now expect woman to produce children like machines, what a farce.
Last year, a study estimated that 2,72,000 maternal fatalities around the world were prevented by contraceptive use, and that India accounted for nearly a third of the averted deaths. However, the fact remains that India is home to the most maternal deaths in the world and 50 per cent of those fatalities are in the 19 to 24 year old age group. By ignoring all such crucial issues, BJP leaders are advocating the wrong things. God knows, where this country is heading?
