Back in 1992, the government of India officially recognised the practice of female infanticide in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu, South India. Several systems were put into place to reduce the number of baby girls murdered by their parents. Including the introduction of the cradle systems in primary health centres where parents can give up their children, heavy penalties for parents found guilty for murdering their children and cash grants for parents with girl children. Although population distribution and NGOs would tell a different story, the government announced that female infantacide has now been eradicated. This photoeassy examines the status of women in rural South India; while many have been saved at birth, with poverty and the custom of dowry still rampant, what lives await them?