Female Infanticide in Tamil Nadu Some Evidence

Abstract

Female infanticide - the killing of female infants because they are female- has occurred not only in several cultures across history, but is known to occur in contemporary societies as well [George et al 1992]. [Panigrahi 1972][Viswa Nath 1973][Clark 1983] have documented female infanticide in India the period of British colonial rule. In the period since independence, the gruesome practice has been reported as occurring in many parts of the country including Tamil Nadu, where the phenomenon is of recent origin, and was not known to exist before
independence, except the among the Thodas of Nilgiris.