Calling on the medical fraternity to fight against pre-natal sex selection, Art of Living Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar quoting scriptures said that killing a girl child is equal to killing a thousand saints.

"Even in our scriptures, women have always been given more prominence as in many cases the Goddess name precedes the God's like in Lakshmi Narayana, Sita Ram or Rahde Shyam", he said while addressing a workshop here today titled 'Doctors for Daughters: Faith in Action against Sex Selection'.

Urging doctors to lead in curbing the menace, he said that when doctors propogate the message, it is often received as the gospel truth by the common man. He said the doctors must create awareness among those practising it for monetary gain.

The 2001 census which had seen the child sex ratio in India fall so drastically from 962 females per 1000 males in 1981 to 945 in 1991 and 927 in 2001 had sent shockwaves. "It showed us how deep the intolerance in this country is for half of humanity", said Ena Singh, Representative, United Nations Population Fund.

"Not welcoming a girl child at birth today, you automatically lose the right to welcome the daughter-in-law later", said, Dr Adhao, President, Indian Medical Association.

The workshop organised by Art of Living Foundation along with IMA and UNFPA, witnessed the participation of 70 doctors across the country. A resolve to educate the youth and reaching out to medical students was taken up at the workshop.