New research by ActionAid and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) shows that the number of girls born and surviving in northern India compared to boys falls far short of normal expectations, and continues to slide.
The research has been published in a reported titled Disappearing Daughters. It said that deeply entrenched discrimination against women has led to the survival rates of girls hitting an all-time low.
With parts of society regarding girls as little more than economic and social burdens, families are going to extreme lengths to avoid having daughters, it added.
ActionAid and IDRCs research reveals that, despite policies to address girls rights and public information campaigns, sex-selective abortion and neglect are on the increase. It alleged that although prenatal sex detection and sex-selective abortion was illegal, the law is not being enforced.
Doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners were allegedly routinely violating the ban, performing abortions of female foetuses and benefiting financially.
It estimated that around 10 million female foetuses may have been aborted in India over the last two decades.
In one site in Punjab state, there are just 300 girls to every 1,000 boys among higher caste families, it says. ActionAid says India faces a "bleak" future if it does not end its practice of cultural preference for boys.
