Indeed, the practice of female foeticide, enabled by illegal sex-determining ultrasound scans, is most prevalent in comparatively rich areas, some of which, in Punjab and Haryana, now suffer an acute shortage of girls.Television, available in about half India's homes, is spreading a shared culture.
Female foeticide remains prevalent, reflecting a cultural preference for boys.The government might also welcome a wider debate because it has a decent case to make.
And Aamir Khan hosts another television show, "Satyamev Jayate", whose weekly episodes have looked at India's health-care system, female foeticide, child marriage and other social inequalities.Messrs Khan and Kapoor have followings of millions of fans.
Modern ultrasound technology, coupled with a traditional preference for boys, has led to mass female foeticide.
Their assorted woes range from female foeticide to violent abuse within families, attacks in trains or on unsafe city streets, under-representation in politics and business, economic discrimination, religious repression and much more.If that were not bad enough, add the tactless comments of a minister in the national government, Prakash Jaiswal.
"If they so love Sikhi, why not question the high rate of female foeticide within the Sikh community as a hindrance... rather than attempting to bar non-Sikhs from the marriage ceremony?" asks writer and journalist Herpreet Kaur Grewal.
Unfortunately, there is only so much that can Udwin can cram into the space of an hour and some issues are merely mentioned, such as female foeticide or acid attacks.
In 2009, he approached Aamir Khan, the Bollywood star, about hosting a TV show, which went on the air in May as "Satyamev Jayate" (Truth Prevails), and has quickly gained much praise and some criticism for how it has covered important subjects like female foeticide and the sexual abuse of children.
Rajasthan: To expedite the trial in longstanding cases of illegal pre-natal sex determination and female foeticide, the state government will set up seven special courts, The Times of India reported.
"Sex determination, often the precursor to abortion and foeticide, is rampant not because of lax laws but poor implementation," the writer notes.
