Times may be changing rapidly, but even today sons are given more importance than daughters.
After strictness on sex determination of fetus in India, people are now turning towards Nepal. These days, Nepal has become the center of gender testing for Indian citizens.
Many people from Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand as well as other districts are reaching various cities of Nepal every day for gender testing. Sex determination of pregnant women is being done for just Rs 10 thousand. Those who undergo gender testing are those whose first two or more children are daughters.
For the people of the border, the nearest town is Baitadi, just 22 km away from Jhulaghat. Due to this, most of the people are getting their pregnant women checked here only. According to information received from sources, recently a man reached Baitari, Nepal for gender test when his wife became pregnant.
Investigation is done in Nepal without any document
While in India the government administration has made Aadhar card mandatory for ultrasound, there is no such provision in Nepal. This means that without any document anyone can go to the hospital and get themselves tested.
Apart from Baitadi, gender testing is done in many cities of Nepal. People from the frontier are also going to Nepal for gender testing. People are being appealed not to do this.
Hema Kapri, Superintendent of Girls Home Card Institution, Pithoragarh.
For some time now, many people from India have been coming here on the pretext of getting health checkup done, but here they are getting gender test done. People are being made aware.
Mohan Singh, social worker Baitadi Nepal