Paper Details

The present study entitled “Understanding the Complex Factors Driving Female Foeticide in Bikaner District of Rajasthan was undertaken to analyze the factors that lead to female foeticide. The present study was conducted in the Bikaner district there are seven panchayat samities out of which kolayat and Sridungargarh panchayat samities were selected based on the lowest and highest sex ratio for selection of the rural respondents. Urban respondents were selected from Bikaner city. Bikaner city was divided into two zones (East and West zone) from each zone one ward was selected randomly. The data was collected with the help of a questionnaire method. The major findings of the present study revealed that most respondents were 21- 27 years old. The major factors perceived by the respondents that lead to female foeticide were the dowry system and boys as are source of support in old age. Comparative data indicate that boys are a source of support in old age The dowry system was an important factor perceived by rural boys ranked first with a mean score of 0.86. In the case of girls, girls are a financial burden and the dowry system was the most important factor perceived by rural girls ranked first with an equal mean score of 0.74.

Female foeticide, Sex ratio, Dowry and Financial burden