Srinagar, March 28 -- "Given the high expenses of upbringing and dowry expectations, we felt unprepared for a third child, especially if it was a girl," she told me.

Her concerns were validated when they learned that the aborted fetus was indeed female, and she expressed relief at having avoided the responsibility of raising a daughter.

A recent miscarriage experienced by a family member reinforced the concerns expressed by the principal. This was the fourth pregnancy for the expectant mother, following a previous unsuccessful one. Hoping for a male child this time, given she already had two daughters, the family faced disappointment when the pregnancy ended prematurely, resulting in the birth of a female child at eight months, leading ...