Topic: Social empowerment. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
4.Do you consider that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill doesn’t do enough to safeguard women’s choices and interests in the country? Critically analyse. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail in what way The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill doesn’t do enough to secure women’s choices and interests.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the features of the bill and bring out the lacunae present in it. Suggest way forward as to what needs to be done to overcome the issue.
Directive:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly explain the context of the question.
Body:
Point out the key changes in the Bill from the previous version of it. Discuss the issues with the law – at all stages of the pregnancy, the healthcare providers, rather than the women seeking abortion, have the final say on whether the abortion can be carried out. The MTP Act embodies a clear prejudice against unmarried women, due to advancements in science, foetal abnormalities can now be detected even after 20 weeks. However, the MTP Act presently allows abortion post 20 weeks only where it is necessary to save the life of the mother. etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting what needs to be done and in what way the Bill needs to be modified to address the real problem and ensure women have their rights in place.
