We hear and read about female feticide, which is really a wrong practice. In some families, be it rural or urban, females are

tortured for giving birth to a girl child.

(i) Female feticide leads to which major problem in the country?

(ii) In your opinion, the approach of the society towards mother in this regard is correct Not? Explain with a scientific reason.

(iii) What value will the learners infer from this passage?

i) Female feticide is killing the girl child when it is in the mother’s womb. This leads to a major problem of decreased girl population in the country leading to disturbed sex ratio i.e. a number of males per

female. The sex ratio lies at around 880 females per 1000 males which is very low and is of a moral concern.

ii) Scientifically speaking, sex of the baby cannot be changed or influenced. Genetically male possess 1 copy of X chromosome and 1 copy of Y chromosome while female possess both copies of X chromosomes.

Thus males produce 50% X chromosome sperms and 50% Y chromosome sperms while female bears only X chromosome egg. Now which sperm is going to fertilize the egg is not in anyone’s control. Hence, it is worthless to blame women for giving birth to a female child because she cannot control it.

iii) From this passage first of all, learner will learn about the problem persisting in our society. Secondly, he/she will get the genetic and scientific knowledge regarding the birth and sex control of baby. Third, a leaner will now know that it is worthless to blame anyone especially women for giving birth to a female child and he/she will get awareness regarding this which he/she will pass on.