101 East - Female infanticide
101 East

Female infanticide

101 East looks at the issues behind the alarming gender imbalance across India.

Watch part two

Female infanticide in India has led to an alarming gender gap in the population with experts estimating 50 million more males than females.

The killing of baby girls has long been a shadowy aspect of traditional Indian society, where boys are more highly valued.

While doctors are prohibited from telling couples the gender of their baby, it is common for women to seek an ultrasound scan and then termination if it is a girl.

Campaigners estimate up to 10 million girls have been killed before or at birth in the past 20 years.

On this edition of 101 East, we investigate why India cannot or will not protect its baby girls.

This episode of 101 East airs from Thursday, August 27, 2009 at the following times GMT: Thursday: 1230; Friday: 0300; Saturday: 0530, 1730; Sunday: 0330, 1130; Monday: 1630; Tuesday: 1430; Wednesday: 0830, 1930; Thursday: 0630.