Let me start with a tale.
Kamla Devi was pregnant, everybody was happy. After
nine months of expectations the fortunate day came when her water broke; a baby
was going to be delivered! They rushed to the nearest government hospital,
excited! But the hospital asked for money, which her family did not have, they
had to go elsewhere. No hospital was agreeing to accommodate her, she searched
for five days. She searched for 5 days with a dead foetus in her stomach. Her third
baby died. She got pregnant again soon after that. This time during delivery,
she died.
India has just recognised “Reproduction Rights” as a
legal right and is the first country to do so. It recognises the basic
right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the
number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and
means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and
reproductive health. It also includes the right of all to make decisions concerning
reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence as expressed in
human rights documents. In the exercise of this right, they should take into
account the needs of their living and future children and their
responsibilities towards the community. The citizens of countries other
than India might be confounded- “If they don’t decide, then who does? The
Godfather?” Well no, the husbands mostly. In a typical Indian family, the
husband earns while the wife does household chores. So of course, only the
husband can decide the matters of the house, amount of children THEY want, the
money and facilities SHE should get, her behaviour in front of others, her
number of breaths…
