Passage: If the 1991 Census showed that two districts had a child sex ratio (number of...
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Passage:**
If the 1991 Census showed that two districts had a child sex ratio (number of girls per thousand boys) less than 850, by 2001 it was 51 districts. Child rights activist Dr. Sabu George says foeticide is the most extreme form of violence against women. "Today a girl is several times more likely to be eliminated before birth than die of various causes in the first year. Nature intended the womb to be a safe space. Today, doctors have made it the most unsafe space for the female child," he says. He believes that doctors must be held responsible - "They have aggressively promoted the misuse of technology and legitimised foeticide."
Akhila Sivadas, Centre for Advocacy and Research, Delhi, feels that the PCPNDT Act (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques - Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) is very well conceived and easy to use. The need of the hour is legal literacy to ensure the law is implemented. "The demand and supply debate has been going on for some time. Doctors say there is a social demand and they are only fulfilling it. They argue that social attitudes must change. However, in this case supply fuels demand.
Which of the following will Dr. George agree to?
Show answer & explanation
Dr. George explicitly states that 'Nature intended the womb to be a safe space. Today, doctors have made it the most unsafe space for the female child,' and emphasizes that 'a girl is several times more likely to be eliminated before birth than die of various causes in the first year.' This clearly indicates that the womb has become MORE dangerous than after birth due to foeticide. Option C aligns with this view—the girl child is safer after birth than in the womb.
Step-by-step Derivation:
Step 1: Identify Dr. George's key statement: 'Nature intended the womb to be a safe space. Today, doctors have made it the most unsafe space for the female child.'
Step 2: Compare the safety levels:
- Before birth (in womb): Dr. George says it is NOW 'the most unsafe space'
- After birth: He provides comparative data: 'a girl is several times more likely to be eliminated before birth than die of various causes in the first year'
Step 3: Interpret the comparison:
- 'Several times more likely to be eliminated before birth' = higher danger in womb
- 'Than die of various causes in the first year' = lower danger after birth
Step 4: Evaluate options:
- A: False (contradicts his statement that womb is unsafe)
- B: False (opposite of his position)
- C: True (matches his contention that womb is now more dangerous than after birth)
- D: Not applicable
Answer: C