Female Foeticide in Rural and Urban Areas of Kashmir: Causes and Consequences

Female foeticide refers to the intentional termination of a pregnancy due to the fetus being female. This practice continues to skew the sex ratio in India, with an estimated 10 lakh girls missing from the population. This study investigates the underlying causes of female foeticide in the Kashmir Valley, examining the socio-economic and cultural factors that perpetuate this issue. Conducted through a survey of 400 families across ten districts—Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Sopore, Shopian, Bandipora, Kulgam, Budgam, Ganderbal, and Pulwama—the research utilized structured questionnaires and interviews. Findings indicate that the economic burden of dowry in daughters' marriages is a primary driver, exacerbated by higher education levels which increase marriage costs. Additionally, cultural norms that assign the responsibility of performing parents' last rites to sons, alongside economic and emotional preferences for male children, further contribute to this social malaise. The study calls for urgent policy interventions to address these gender biases and promote societal change.