Doctors in India Challenge Sexism

17,000 doctors in India are offering to deliver baby girls free of charge in an attempt to challenge sexist attitudes. The doctors took the decision after seeing many families reacting negatively to the birth of a daughter, which should be a cause for celebration.

(Dr Ganesh Rakh orders cakes and a party for every baby girl he delivers)

Dr Rakh launched the project after he noticed the stark disparity between how the birth of a boy was treated compared to that of a girl. He says he saw fathers becoming angry or crying when their wives delivered a girl, and then resenting paying the hospital bill. In contrast, a baby boy would prompt celebration, tips for nurses and sweets to be distributed.

 Dr Satish Andhale Patil works in Mauli Hospital near Pune and has been delivering girls free of charge since hearing about Dr Rakh last June."I have seen 15 suicides of women who had given birth to their second daughter and were in despair. When Dr Rakh started, I knew I had a social responsibility to do the same,"

The cultural preference for sons can lead to mothers aborting female foetuses or killing or abandoning newborn baby girls. Indian Law bans ultra sounds that detect the sex of a baby, however the practice remains widespread. 

According to the 2011 census, for every 1000 boys born in India, only 927 girls were born. The latest figures, published last year, showed that this had fallen to 918 girls for every 1000 boys with some states having as low a figure as 836.