Abstract
For most human populations the infant mortality for males is about 20-30% higher than for females. But in several States of India male infants experience a better survival than females. Many social, religious, and economic factors appear to operate against females throughout India. In the agriculturally prosperous States of Haryana and Punjab the neglect of female infants appears most severe; it is estimated that more than 10 000 die of neglect every year. Additional reasons could well be deeply rooted in the turbulent history of north-western India, which has borne the brunt of savage invasions through Afghanistan for several centuries. These areas have not seen peace for the last 1000 years.
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