Event held to spread awareness against female foeticide

Aimed at creating awareness against female foeticide by engaging school students, an event was held here Thursday.

The event titled 'She - The Girl Child!' was an initiative of Paras Hospitals.

The event drew nearly 40 Gurgaon school students who spoke on the topic of female foeticide in India, its causes and also suggested measures to stop the practice.

In this context, Rakhee Gogoi, head of radiology department at Paras Hospitals, said doctors, especially sonologists, "have a major role to play".

"No doubt the government has developed strong measures against sex determination, but the gap still remains. It is because most of the radiologists still allow sex determination tests and such professionals should be severely punished," she said.

Poornima Savargoankar, a former scientist now associated with NGO Uthaan, told IANS that such events can help lend a voice to the cause.

"As the students who participated today (Thursday) are our future, they can propagate the message at school, at their homes and everywhere they go," she said.

On the occasion, a short film themed "Let the girl child blossom" was screened.