“They twisted their necks and poisoned them”: in India, midwives killed newborn girls
Midwives in India, despite intense pressure from families, were able to save several newborn girls who could have been brutally murdered.
Syro Devi, one of the senior midwives, met 20-year-old Monica Tette, a girl she once saved at birth. Although infanticide has long been outlawed in India, the practice continued due to ancient dowry customs, informs BBC Ukraine.
According to tradition, the families of the brides had to provide significant funds, jewels and other valuables to the groom’s family during the wedding. For many poor families, it became an unbearable financial burden. Therefore, the birth of a girl was often perceived as a tragedy, which pushed parents to put pressure on village midwives to kill newborn girls.
The methods of killing were terrible – the girls were poisoned with chemicals, strangled or their necks were twisted. Sometimes children were simply left in places where they had no chance of survival.
Changes for the better
Since the 1990s, the situation began to change thanks to social worker Anila Kumari, who supported midwives who refused to participate in these terrible crimes.
Monica, saved thanks to the efforts of Ciro and Anila, expressed her gratitude to these women for her life. Her story is an example of changes in society, although the problem of sex-selective abortions is still relevant.
