Paper long abstract:

The 2011 Census of India data has revealed that the child (0-6 age group) sex ratios have been steadily declining from 971 in 1981, to 945 in 1991, 927 in 2001 and 914 in 2011. This decline of the sex ratio of girls between the 0-6 age group has reported to be largely due to pre-natal sex selection, which located in the part of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana specially, north region of India. Decline of the sex ratio of Girl Child in India has indicated to the strong feelings of son preferences, which refers that sons can provide old age support. In India, sons are important (for Hindus) because they alone can perform the funeral rituals of the parents. Added to this, most women have very limited opportunities to contribute towards their parents' welfare. Though socioeconomic and cultural reasons propagate son preference and thinking of daughters as a burden.

The Government of India introduced Pre- conception and Pre- natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (1994) to impede the female feticide. Simultaneously Indian electronic media specially, films and Tele- serials are trying to examine the impact of female feticide and female infanticide on the gender balance, and consequently the stability and attitudes of Indian society. Therefore, their story lines bears some resemblance to real-life instances of gender imbalance and economics resulting in fraternal polyandry and bride buying in some part of Northern India.