Indian Govt.’s “cradle scheme” against abortion of female fetuses welcomed by Church

(20 Feb.2007):-India has launched a “cradle scheme” in a bid to redress a critical numerical imbalance between the male and female population, which is rooted mainly in foeticide. The plan will be implemented by the ministry for women and child development in collaboration with local governments. The Indian Church, consistently committed to countering all forms of abortion and gender discrimination, has welcomed the initiative,reiterating the inestimable value of each and every life, for which Catholics in the country have been fighting for decades. Renuka Chowdhury, minister for women and child development, said: “We want to put a cradle or “palna “in every district headquarters to tell parents to have their children and leave them to us.” The minister said parents could have a change of heart later and take their children back. Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Mumbai said the government plan was a continuation of the good work being done by the Church. Interviewed by AsiaNews, the archbishop expressed appreciation for the initiative of the “cradle scheme” to protect little girls because in our social context, strong gender discrimination persists. The Indian Church has been working on this front for decades, he said and added “The sisters of Mother Teresa and other religious congregations accept unwanted babies, keeping a cradle outside the door of their institutions.The Church values and treasures each and every life, male and female, from conception to its natural end. This is why Catholic personnel impart ethical and moral teachings against the evil practice of infanticide in health structures,where unscrupulous doctors are often at work,said Archbishop Oswald Gracias.