Notwithstanding the impressive economic growth record in the recent past, India continues to have high rates of malnutrition, especially among women and children.

The book examines the nature of maternity entitlements of women within the context of the totality of women's

Son preference, or the privileging of sons over daughters in accordance to a patriarchal system, isa growing phenomenon in India.

The available literature on evolution of Indian culture and civilization reveals that although the ancient writers pretended to record their revered admiration for the womanhood yet in actual practice women have always been suppressed and exploited by the dominant male members of the society.