The Datamation Foundation uses ICT to tackle the problem of sex-selective abortions. Confidential complaints against law-breakers can be registered on its website, registration of ultrasound equipment is tracked online, and computer carts and community radio take messages into rural areas
A motley group of students is all agog at a school auditorium as a panel of doctors, social workers and lawyers holds forth on the topic of sex-selective abortions. As the experts tackle various aspects of the issue -- social, legal, medical, commercial -- the students scribble furiously into their notepads. After the discussion, several hands go up to ask more questions on the topic. And the lively interaction between students and experts continues... The interactive workshop is part of an ongoing sensitisation programme initiated by Datamation Foundation (DF), a pan-India NGO that targets women, economically and socially disadvantaged communities and the youth to bring about gender equity, youth empowerment and poverty alleviation. The Foundation uses a host of channels to raise public awareness about sex-selective abortions through various campaigns. Till date, DF has disseminated over 6 million emails worldwide on sex-selective abortions, apart from employing offline strategies like distribution of posters and handbills at strategic locations and conducting interactive workshops for school/college students. Through ICT (Information Communication Technology), DF also generates and records complaints against medical staff indulging in selective sex-determination tests and abortion of female foetuses across India. "The idea behind our project," says Delhi-based Sarita Sharma, Trustee, Datamation Foundation, and Head of the sex-selective abortions initiative, "is to attack the problem at its root". The practice of sex-selective abortions, according to Sarita, is a complicated medley of personal choice and social, ethical, medical and legal factors. "Technology too has come to play a catalytic and complicated role here in the form of Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) which are being used indiscriminately for sex-determination and termination of unborn girl-children," she adds. By sensitising the public (also through its portal indiafemalefoeticide.org), the Foundation advocates a complete ban and penal action against selective sex-determination tests. It also helps spread awareness about the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (PCPNDT), which bans any form of sex-determination testing. In addition, DF is aiming for increased compliance amongst maternity/nursing homes, ultrasound clinics and radiologists in registering their ultrasound machines under the PCPNDT Act. Also on DF's agenda is the exchange of information among interested stakeholders, distribution of technical material and resources to online stakeholders and building e-governance modules that identify ultrasound clinics and nursing homes conducting illegal sex-determination tests. "The main loophole that lets offenders of sex-determination techniques get away scot-free in India is the lack of a strong legislation and its abysmal implementation," says Sarita. The Foundation attempts to sensitise millions of people worldwide on the issue through email, while the rural population is targeted through community radio. Staff and volunteers of the Foundation also visit rural areas using a portable computer mart, called a 'computer thela', to educate villagers in simple terms. The young are targeted through Internet centres, cybercafes, schools and colleges. "Apart from sensitising people about the gross violation of human rights, we also build the capacities of health workers and health institutions and seek a Net-based pledge to fight selective sex tests and abortions," says Chetan Sharma, another trustee at the Foundation. DF's endeavour is to address the impending 'gender crisis' in Indian society. India's skewed sex ratio -- 927 girls for every 1,000 boys -- has indeed become cause for worry among experts. Even some poor African nations (Nigeria at 965, and Ghana at 964) fare better than India in this regard, as does neighbouring Pakistan, with 958. To make matters worse, during the last 10 years the sex ratio has worsened in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab. DF's research highlights that increased accessibility sex-selective tests and abortions is directly responsible for the abandonment of female foetuses. The Foundation has therefore designed its complaint-lodging process in such a way that it protects the identity of the complainant and yet provides an effective vehicle for booking the doctor, maternity home, ultrasound clinic or radiology clinic. The complaints find their way into a database from where they are channelised to the relevant authority for redressal. The Foundation's website has a separate tracking process for the medical community, and another one for the public. Complaints about families that have indulged in the crime are forwarded to regional voluntary groups. Interpretation of the law, in the form of demographic data, is also put up on the website, which includes updates, interviews, reports and case studies on sex-selective abortions. "(The problem of) sex-selective abortions needs to be attacked on a war footing in India," says Chetan. "And our attempt is to build capacity, both amongst the community and the stakeholders." Since the problem can't be addressed in isolation, DF also examines related social malaises such as dowry, women's underemployment/exploitation, education of the girl-child and early marriage. "The aim is to develop sustainable development models for each of these problems so that they can collectively and positively impact the adverse male-female ratio in our society," Sarita concludes. -- Neeta Lal (Neeta Lal is an independent journalist based in Delhi) InfoChange News & Features, April 2007
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