The modern thinking Indian

No, this is not the story of a miracle. This is actually a very sordid story that brought out a lot of problems, none of which have immediate solutions that can prevent such a thing from happening again.
So what happened, well it's a short story of the tragedy kind. A farmer saw some dogs trying to dig a pit out of which a small hand was projecting. He must have been shocked, but he chased the dogs away and dug open the pit, and what did he find? He found an infant female (2 day old), alive and crying. He alerted the police who took her to a hospital.
Why was she lying in the pit ? Because she had been deliberately buried in the pit by her grandparents, as she was the 8th female grand-daughter and he would not have been able to take care of her. So he tried to bury her. Don't believe this ? See this link.
I really was stuck speechless after reading this. A child is the most precious thing in the world, and for a caring society, ensuring the welfare of children, especially when they are unable to take care of themselves, is one of the primary responsibilities. To attempt to take a life is a crime, and it is a morally reprehensible act to do that for a defenseless child. My indignation is not tempered by the fact that such things are reported to happen all over the countryside, either through getting an abortion after the sex of the child is revealed; or killing the infant after delivery. It is a shameful act, and yet it happens so often, with doctors violating their sacred Hippocratic oath (hypocritical) to help in such acts.
There are other avenues possible, such as giving the child for adoption. The question remains as to why a girl child is seen as a liability. Give her equal education, and watch her be an equal and responsible member of society. How can we prevent such things from happening ? What kind of society are we moving towards ?

Labels: Child, Community, Discrimination, Family, India, Morality, Reform