Omkari Panwar, 70 has given birth to twins after caesarean procedure in India. Reportedly she had broken the current record of the oldest mum of the world held by a 67 years old Spanish lady. The babies, a girl and a boy were conceived as a result of IVF for which the couple had to take a loan from the bank. The reason they hold for having a baby is the need of a male heir. The lady already has 2 daughters and five grand children. Way to go granny!
Quite understandable, however it does make us question the social values of our South Asia as a male baby has always been the reason of happiness and pride for the parents as compared to a baby girl. The result of it is either the increasing rate of abortion in to be mothers of even if the girl survives to come to the world, the mistreatment with her which includes unbalanced diet, lack of education and deprivation of many basic facilities of life at the hands of society. The second question risen here is, can an old couple take care of small babies the way a young energetic one can or whether they have time enough for that or no?
Attitudes have been changed to some extent but the growing awareness through media, but a large section of the common masses still follow the same practice in many rural areas. The fact needs to be established that female section is as important as a male section in society because after all, it is a woman one has to look for when the son grows up.
