Includes bibliographical references (pages 309-334) and index.

"An incisive analysis of the countering of gender discrimination by the Indian State. The selective elimination of female foetuses due to not wanting a female child has led to an imbalance in the child sex ratio of India. The Census of India 2011 has revealed that there are only 919 girls per 1000 boys in the 0-6 age group. The book critically examines the policies, programmes, laws and schemes that have been unfurled by the state to improve the situation. It contextualises the debate, developments and disagreements that exist in the field by using a feminist theoretical lens. Can the state bring an end to sex-selective abortion and enhance the value of the girl-child in the country? What kind of role can the feminists play in enabling the state in doing so? Well documented, with in-depth empirical and qualitative research, a rich theoretical framework and concrete recommendations, this book has significant policy implications. The state and society in India today are grappling with the issue of sex-selective abortion and the concerns of the girl-child and women while systematic solutions continue to elude them. It will be thus of great interest to policy-makers, implementers and academia. It will also be of interest to scholars of policy studies, political theory, gender studies, population studies and public health. It is essential reading for students, media-persons and practitioners who study, work, write and are interested to intiate change in this field."--Book jacket flap.