Showing posts with label Punjab. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Punjab. Show all posts

Monday, April 19, 2010

Female infanticide affects sex ratio in Punjab

Female infanticide affects sex ratio in Punjab: The evil is more prevalent among the educated and the rich: survey

PATIALA: “She was thrown in the garbage dump outside the village for dogs that ate her. Her only fault — she was the fourth girl born in a poor family,” said Harshinder Kaur, paediat­ric doctor here, recalling the first time she witnessed discrimina­tion against female infants in Punjab's rural side.

The sex ratio of last births (number of females born per 1,000 males when the first child is a female) ranges from a low of 504 in Punjab, to 540 in Haryana, and 572 in Himachal Pradesh indicating a re­gional spread.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/2010/04/16/ stories/2010041654592200.htm

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Church vandalised in Batala, Punjab - Bishop visits

Following protests by Christians against a display of Jesus holding a beer can and cigarette in Shillong, the Epiphany church in Batala (CNI Amritsar Diocese) in Punjab has been attacked by religious/political fundamentalists. The beautiful historic church build in Mughal style was broken into and vandalised. The altar, pulpit and beautifully carved wooden furniture were burned down. Bishop PK Samantaroy and other diocesan leaders are visiting Batala, but due to a curfew in the area they are so far not allowed to visit the site, let alone take photos to document the damage. Christians in the area are very disturbed and members of the church are uncertain where and how to worship this Sunday. Pray for Bishop Samantaroy and other leaders as they seek to respond to this situation. Bishop Samantaroy is also a member of the Asia CMS governance advisory group.