The gender imbalance in China has remained at an alarmingly high ratio of 117 new-born boys for 100 girls in 2012. According to census data, the number of working-age people in China fell for the first time in its recent history, by 3.45 million, to 937.27 million. China’s gender imbalance had widened after ultrasound examinations were widely available in the 1980s. In 2011, the government punished 13,000 people following a campaign to monitor selective abortions.
THE BACKGROUND
Family planning policy in China was enforced in the early 1980s. Known widely as the ‘one-child policy,’ the measure has been seen as a major reason behind the fast-widening gender imbalance. China enforced the policy with iron hands and resorted to measures like forced abortions and heavy fines. The policy now covers two-thirds of the population. In rural areas, families can have a second child if their first-born is a daughter. Couples who are both only children now can also have a second child, while members of China’s 55 minority groups are also exempt from the restrictions. Calls have grown from scholars for the policy to be relaxed, not only for demographic reasons but also because they are seen by a growing number of Chinese scholars as violating fundamental human rights. Measures like forced abortions and exorbitant fines are considered inhumane. They also amount to violation of fundamental rights. This policy has also resulted in the problem of ageing of labour force and it is feared this phenomenon will go from bad to worse. Ratio of old aged persons to persons in working age group is increasing in favour of the former.
THE OVERVIEW
China is a classic case of successful family planning. Clear policy, committed administration and strong political will are the hallmarks of execution of this policy. Gender imbalance is blamed on selective abortions after availability of ultrasound technology. It means that couples who come to know that the new-born would be a girl tend to abort and those who have male child let the same born. This mentality of preferring male child and distaste of girl child is another issue of probe as this is found in most of the societies save Muslims whom their religion has taught to love girls too and so their love and affection for girls have become ingrained in their psyche. But the blame on ultrasound technology alone is simply a scapegoat to ignore the real issue of natural balance made available to mankind by his Creator and the folly of human beings to interplay with the same. Gender imbalance and ageing of labour force are proof of man’s stupidity in planning the creation itself. The question is what the subject of planning is and what the object of planning is. Resources have to be planned for human beings and so these are its subjects. Man is the object of planning as his welfare as such should be intended. Making man itself the subject of planning is the strange approach which the modern society has adopted.