These people have lost their souls. They seem to be bereft of normal human emotions -- they can't marry for love, or embrace the children God gives you, no matter what sex the child is.

Kelly, Houston, USA/Texas

I bet Gandhi is spinning in his grave.

Craig, Deerfield Beach, Florida USA

In India as in other countries, legislation cannot be enforced if it is out of step with prevailing mores. If India wants to change this situation, the Indian government and people will have to change the education and customs in society. Perhaps a tax rebate or some other adjustments giving advantages to parents of female children together with educational programs and public information campaigns might help. It would seem that there would be all sorts of people and governments and foundations in the world who would be interested in supporting such initiatives.

Yehoshua, Kochav Hashachar,

The "stupid idea of dowries" looks to be about to change by itself: as acceptable brides become harder to find the money will start to travel the other way. Market forces rule!

Ross, Bristol,

People need to separate infanticide (which is the killing of a infant once born) from feticide (which according to the Indian law is not murder but the termination of a fetus). I don't want to get into a debate about abortion, but the real crime in Indian law is sex-selection, not abortion. In this India is ahead of the game. Although some people talk of 'femicide', acts aimed at deliberately ensuring that girls/women are not born have not been recognised as a crime against humanity (in the same way genocide is), but perhaps should be. Then we would focus on the real issue and not a whole lot of confusion about the right and wrongs of abortion or the equivalence of infanticide and feticide. Once we recognise femicide as a crime against humanity, then the real causal factors, the institutional and systematic discrimination against women can be attacked.

Mr. K Thomson, London, UK

Sir,
India is apparently a schizophrenic nation of shocking contrasts, one foot in the technological future, whilst the other is in the lowest depths of primitive barbarism. The Caste system and discrimination against the weaker sections of society are ripping apart the social fabric. One hopes that India has the vision of Gandhi, instead of the myopic selfish politicians, who are ready to pit the various sections against one another in order to rule. If that is the case then India's stability would endanger further economic and social progress.

SC, London, United Kingdom

I am ashamed to be an Indian today

Ash, Mumbai, India

As a Christian it is hard to agree with contraception but I guess it is better than abortion. Although 2 wrongs dont make a right, this is one instance where it is. However, this is not the case of unwanted pregnancy but unwanted babies because they are of the wrong gender. Why not change the stupid ideas of dowry, and expectations at this day and age. Personally l cant find the logic in doing so as the mother would not be around if her mother had the same mentality as her. Someone has to have girls to produce babies !!! Do they realise that boys are incapable of reproducing on their own. Men will always need women and vice versa. It is about time people are educated and reminded of the facts of life. It is also the same as in Asian culture where boys are preferred because they carry on the family name. That seems to be slowly changing so cultures can change according to the times we live.

Virginia, Brisbane, Australia

This violent and inhumane infanticide must stop. Many of the culprits are humane vegetarians who are against killing animals. The lives of animals are precious but so are the lives of innocent human fetuses.

Brien Comerford, Glenview, United Sates

In the 21st century the concept of having to pay someone to marry your daughter is patently absurd. These people need to get out of the dark ages and into the light. If it wasn't for daughters there would be no mothers and ergo no sons.

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., Maryland, USA

Good reporting. Thank you for showing the official figures of these evil practices.I suggest to show the unofficial figures also which is the near actual numbers to get the whole picture of what we are looking at.

Jean P.Thomas, silver spring, U.S

It's time for the Indian government to bring its country to the 21st century and outlaw this ancient dowry business and its attitude towards the female population and introduce equal rights law.

gs, London, UK

The imbalance is in sex, NOT in gender. Gender is a grammatical term. Only words have gender. Living things have sex.

Roberto Cabeza, Santiago, Chile