Protectors turn predators: how son preference fuels female foeticide rackets in Maharashtra
A former health official in Maharashtra has been arrested for allegedly running a female foeticide racket, highlighting the persistence of illegal practices driven by son preference. The state government plans to introduce stricter laws, though critics remain skeptical about the effectiveness of enforcement.
Why it matters
This case exposes the deep-seated social issue of female foeticide and the failure of existing regulatory mechanisms to prevent medical professionals from exploiting the system.
A man once tasked with saving Maharashtra’s daughters has now been unmasked as one of their most prolific predators.
For decades, Dr. Chandrakant Gunda Gaikwad sat comfortably within the upper echelons of the State health establishment, serving as a district civil surgeon and assistant director. He was also part of the government’s ‘Save the Girls’ campaign for years.
Retirement did not signal an end to his medical career, but marked the expansion of a dark underground enterprise. Dr. Gaikwad was arrested by the Kolhapur police on July 31 for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated female foeticide ring. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to performing around 200 to 250 illegal abortions, the police said.
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