These online shopping platforms and search engines promote sex selection by allowing access to information that helps people determine the sex of a foetus, says Change.org
Sex determination is illegal in India. The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act prohibits all forms of advertising related to sex determination services. No person can issue, publish, distribute or communicate any advertisement on sex-determination facilities, in any form, including on the Internet, says the law.
Breaking the law
According to Change.org, online marketplaces Amazon, Flipkart, Naaptol as well as several comparison sites are selling publications and products that promote gender determination.
These online platforms and search engines cater to all age groups and promote sex selection by allowing access to information that helps people determine the sex of a foetus, it added.
Asked about this, an Amazon India spokesperson said: “We remain committed to ensure all products sold on Amazon.in are consistent with local laws and regulations.” The company has withdrawn a few books on this subject from its website.
While the practice of sex selection is unlawful under Sections 6 A, 3A, 22(1), 22(2), 22(3) and 23 of the Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, anyone violating the law faces imprisonment up to three years or a fine of Rs.1 lakh, or both.
Poor sex ratio
According to a letter from Change.org, the practice of sex selection results in the loss of about 600,000 girls every year. Consequently, the child sex ratio (number of girls per thousand boys in the 0-6 age group) of the country has dropped to a dismal 918.
The information promoting sex selection is plainly discriminatory and will further fuel the practice of sex selection, thereby sustaining the decline in the number of girls at birth, the organisation said in its appeal. Over 8,000 people have signed the appeal in the last few days.
The letter further added that Flipkart, Amazon, Junglee, Naaptol, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! should be held accountable for advertising and selling publications on sex selection online, promoting gender discrimination and making profits by breaching the law.
Recently, the Supreme Court had instructed Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft not to advertise or sponsor any advertisement related to sex selection services. Business Line
