"In India for centuries newborn baby girls
are dying after their birth. In Tamil Nadu, the southest part
of India, unwanted babies are being killed even today. In remote
villages killing of babies (infanticide) is common. It is practised
in the name of tradition, superstition and poverty".
Testimony:
"I didn't want to kill my daughter. But
neighbors came and told me: "You have three girls, you have
to kill one. Two are enough. How are you going to feed and marry
them?"
But I couldn't kill her. She was gorgeous,
very beautiful. She was destined to die... She was born in our
house in 4 am. Our neigbors said "we'll kill her with smoke
solution". They prepared a solution with crushed smoke plant
leaves. I didn't want to do it. In the morning I prayed to God
and I gave her one spoon of the smoke solution. I was misable.
I lied next to her but couldn't look at her. The baby didn't
die at once, I died in the evening. When I saw it was still
alive, I couldn't bear it anymore - I told my mother to save
her, to give her sugarwater so as to wake up. My mother gave
her with her hands but it was too late... She died... My mother
buried her in the garden behind our house. I couldn't do it
myself. Later I planted flowers and a tree in that spot. She
would have been 10 years old today. I never forgot about her.
It is impossible. How can I ever forget her... (sigh)
In Tamil Nadu 3.000 newborn girls are
being killed every year. It is illegal according to be law with
a maximum penalty of life time prison term but authorities haven't
been able to eliminate the practise of infanticide. Here there
is still a wide-spread belief that if you kill your daughter,
the next child will be a boy.
"LA MALEDICTION DE NAÎTRE FILLE", by Manon
Loizeau and Alexis Marant, Capa Presse TV, Albert- Londres prize
2006, 52'