Protectors turn predators: how son preference fuels female foeticide rackets in Maharashtra

Dr. Chandrakant Gunda Gaikwad, a former district civil surgeon and assistant director in Maharashtra's health establishment, has been exposed as a key figure in the state's illegal female foeticide racket. Operating a private hospital in Kolhapur, Gaikwad allegedly performed between 200 to 250 illegal abortions during his career.

The scandal erupted after his arrest on July 31 by Kolhapur police, who found evidence of his involvement in the ring. Gaikwad's arrest comes after years of claims that doctors, pharmacists, and family members routinely bypass the law to carry out female foeticide. Despite the severity of the crime, culprits often escape justice and continue their illicit activities, as highlighted by the Minister of State for Health, who acknowledged the need for a new law to prosecute those involved.

The issue of female foeticide is deeply entrenched in Maharashtra's societal mindset, with a strong preference for sons over daughters. This bias persists across all socio-economic strata, from rural to urban areas. The National Family Health Survey 2019-21 reveals that while 9% of women and 12% of men desire more sons than daughters, only 4-5% wish for more daughters.

This imbalance leads to a cycle of gender inequality, with girls born into families often subjected to the harsh realities of being unwanted. Those who survive face the lifelong burden of being a girl in a society that values sons over daughters.