HYDERABAD: Couples having a strong desire to conceive a male child are often found taking medicine in the form of powder, tablets or herbs which claim to help in having a male child.
In a similar case, people of Jangaon’s desire for a male child is so deep in the mind that families that earn Rs 10,000 a month spend Rs 3000 for three ‘magic pills’ and a nasal drop that is given by a ‘doctor for having a male child.
People in Jangaon are taking an effort of transporting pregnant women to the neighbouring Yadagirigutta for herbal preparations that are supposed to guarantee a male child.
Every week these families keep on going back to Yadgirigutta hoping that the formula would work. A woman named Rekha who is expecting a child stated that “These pills have worked for four women. I am looking forward to having a boy but even if it is a girl, I will be happy.”
The child sex ratio in Jangaon district is currently the worst placed in the state with just 864 girls per 1000 boys. This desire for a male child has its roots in the belief that the male would carry the lineage forward.