‘Anti-abortion laws affect women’s rights adversely’

Even as the government continues with its crackdown on abortion clinics and sonography centres to improve the falling child sex ratio, the members of the Family Planning Association of India believe the move will affect women’s reproductive rights adversely.

Even as the government continues with its crackdown on abortion clinics and sonography centres to improve the falling child sex ratio, the members of the Family Planning Association of India believe the move will affect women’s reproductive rights adversely.

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On the occasion of World Population Day (July 11), members of the planning body held a meeting in the city to discuss issues such as the need for contraception and abortion rights for women.

“We agree that the law should be implemented, but, a sudden crackdown would only affect poor women because doctors are refusing to treat them. Chemists, too, are refusing to give medicines,” said Dr Kalpana Apte, assistant secretary general of the planning body.

Doctors said failure of contraception is the most commonly cited reason for abortion. Right to abort an unwanted pregnancy up to 20 weeks is not only an important right of every woman, but also a family planning measure for many couples, the members said.

“There is still a gap between the desired number of children and the actual number of children people have. It means one in every six women wants to use family planning methods but does not have access to it,” said K Seshagiri Rao, head of the planning body.

Members said despite sustained government measures for more than 50 years, the population growth has not stabilised because of lack of participation from private sector and communities.

“More than 50% of the Indian population is in the reproductive age of 15 to 49 years. It is their right to have children. Even if they have one or two children, it will still be a large number. It is important for every family to have the desired number of children to ensure a substantive decrease in population,” said Dr Apte.

The members also discussed the need for sex education for children and awareness about safe sex practices among youngsters. “We can’t deny that youngsters engage in sexual relationships before marriage. We need to separate awareness about contraception from marital status,” said Dr Shirish Malde, vice-president of the family planning body in Mumbai.