Daughters are often seen as a burden in India, with families having to pay dowries when they marry, while sons are prized as breadwinners who inherit property and continue the family name.
Abortions of female fetuses have been banned in India, where the preference for boys has led to a dwindling number of girls.
According to a government survey released in July, India’s gender ratio, or the number of females per 1,000 males, was 896 from 2015 to 2017, down from 898 in the 2014-2016 period and 900 in the 2013-2015 period.
Indian law bans doctors and health workers from sharing an unborn child’s sex with the parents, or carrying out tests to determine the child’s gender, and only registered medical practitioners are allowed to perform abortions.
Article Appeared @https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3102536/indian-man-accused-slashing-pregnant-wifes-stomach-check-babys