The Indian government has assigned today as National Girl Child Day,
a tribute to the girl and to celebrate her as an equal in her family
and community. Normally, I’m skeptical about days like these – beyond
the designation, it doesn’t seem to spur much action. So far, I haven’t
seen too much – an awards show held by UNICEF to celebrate responsible
gender-sensitive programming and a few other television programs.
Regardless, I think that it could be a positive step to raise awareness
and promote political action to protect one of the most vulnerable
groups of people in Indian society. It’s a chance to open up the floor
for discussing female foeticide, education, child abuse, and other
issues that prevent women and girls from being partners in India’s
current growth and development.
A few tidbits that I gathered:
- Each year 500,000-700,000 girls go missing in India because of female foeticides (that’s 2000 girls a day).
- Even if a girl escapes infanticide or foeticide, a girl child is
less likely to gain access to health care or adequate nutrition compared
to a male child.
- More than 50% of girls are unable to enroll in school. Many of those that do are likely to drop out before the age of 12.
- One of every two girls in India is undernourished.
Obviously the problem exists outside of India. Globally, the concept
of “investing in a girl” could enable us to empower the other half of
society, the other half of the equation, the other half of the solution.
As per the latest Census for the year 2011,
the total female sex ratio in India is 940 per 1000 males and the
female child sex ratio is 944 girl children per every 1000 boy children
of the same age group. Quite alarming are the figures seen in some of
its states and union territories; a table here shows the bottom five states/ Union Territories and their declining female sex ratio
Serial No.
State/UT
Female sex ration as per Census 2011
1
Haryana
877
2
NCT of Delhi
866
3
Chandigarh
818
4
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
775
5
Daman in Daman & Diu
618
The situation is far worse when it comes to the rural child sex ratio
in India, with the results for the Census 2011 showing a further dip in
the rural child sex ratiodeclining from 927 in 2001 to 914 in
2011. Amongst the Union Territories of the country, the rural areas of
Andaman and Nicobar islands registered the highest child sex ratio at
975, and the shocking fact was that the nation’s
capital Delhi registered the lowest number at 809. While amongst India’s
states, the prevalent rural child sex ratio were highest in Meghalaya
and Chattisgarh, both states having registered a rural child sex ratio
of 972, Haryana has the lowest ratio of 831.
Reasons behind female foeticide vary from socio economic conditions
to personal preferences, religion, dowry, etc with male children being
preferred over females. Many religions do not permit a female child to
perform last rights of the soul of the departed parent, with many
religious places of worship not even permitting women to enter.
According to Manusmriti (the Laws of Manu) an ideal woman is represented
as an obedient and submissive person, always needing the care of a
male: first father, then husband, then son.
What do people do?
The International Day of the Girl Child gives people and
organizations the opportunity to raise public awareness of the different
types of discrimination and abuse that many girls around the world
suffer from. On this day, many community and political leaders talk to
the public about the importance of girls’ right to equal education and
their fundamental freedoms. Various events are held to showcase the work
that people are doing to empower girls through active support and
engagement with parents, families, and the wider community.
Donate online, make permanent change possible
Across India, in over 220
CRY-supported projects, children and their families can look forward to
better opportunities and a better life for themselves.
To make this possible, for
over three decades CRY has worked at tackling the root causes such as
non-functioning schools, unemployed parents, gender and caste bias etc.
that lead to children being denied their rights.
You help us bring about
permanent change so children can have a happy, healthy, protected
childhood, forever. We look forward to your constant support; so that
together we can ensure lasting change for children across India.
The Indian government has assigned today as National Girl Child Day,
a tribute to the girl and to celebrate her as an equal in her family
and community. Normally, I’m skeptical about days like these – beyond
the designation, it doesn’t seem to spur much action. So far, I haven’t
seen too much – an awards show held by UNICEF to celebrate responsible
gender-sensitive programming and a few other television programs.
Regardless, I think that it could be a positive step to raise awareness
and promote political action to protect one of the most vulnerable
groups of people in Indian society. It’s a chance to open up the floor
for discussing female foeticide, education, child abuse, and other
issues that prevent women and girls from being partners in India’s
current growth and development.
A few tidbits that I gathered:
- Each year 500,000-700,000 girls go missing in India because of female foeticides (that’s 2000 girls a day).
- Even if a girl escapes infanticide or foeticide, a girl child is less likely to gain access to health care or adequate nutrition compared to a male child.
- More than 50% of girls are unable to enroll in school. Many of those that do are likely to drop out before the age of 12.
- One of every two girls in India is undernourished.
Obviously the problem exists outside of India. Globally, the concept
of “investing in a girl” could enable us to empower the other half of
society, the other half of the equation, the other half of the solution.
As per the latest Census for the year 2011,
the total female sex ratio in India is 940 per 1000 males and the
female child sex ratio is 944 girl children per every 1000 boy children
of the same age group. Quite alarming are the figures seen in some of
its states and union territories; a table here shows the bottom five states/ Union Territories and their declining female sex ratio
| Serial No. | State/UT | Female sex ration as per Census 2011 | |
| 1 | Haryana | 877 | |
| 2 | NCT of Delhi | 866 | |
| 3 | Chandigarh | 818 | |
| 4 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 775 | |
| 5 | Daman in Daman & Diu | 618 |
The situation is far worse when it comes to the rural child sex ratio
in India, with the results for the Census 2011 showing a further dip in
the rural child sex ratiodeclining from 927 in 2001 to 914 in
2011. Amongst the Union Territories of the country, the rural areas of
Andaman and Nicobar islands registered the highest child sex ratio at
975, and the shocking fact was that the nation’s
capital Delhi registered the lowest number at 809. While amongst India’s
states, the prevalent rural child sex ratio were highest in Meghalaya
and Chattisgarh, both states having registered a rural child sex ratio
of 972, Haryana has the lowest ratio of 831.
Reasons behind female foeticide vary from socio economic conditions
to personal preferences, religion, dowry, etc with male children being
preferred over females. Many religions do not permit a female child to
perform last rights of the soul of the departed parent, with many
religious places of worship not even permitting women to enter.
According to Manusmriti (the Laws of Manu) an ideal woman is represented
as an obedient and submissive person, always needing the care of a
male: first father, then husband, then son.
What do people do?
The International Day of the Girl Child gives people and
organizations the opportunity to raise public awareness of the different
types of discrimination and abuse that many girls around the world
suffer from. On this day, many community and political leaders talk to
the public about the importance of girls’ right to equal education and
their fundamental freedoms. Various events are held to showcase the work
that people are doing to empower girls through active support and
engagement with parents, families, and the wider community.
Donate online, make permanent change possible
Across India, in over 220
CRY-supported projects, children and their families can look forward to
better opportunities and a better life for themselves.
To make this possible, for
over three decades CRY has worked at tackling the root causes such as
non-functioning schools, unemployed parents, gender and caste bias etc.
that lead to children being denied their rights.
You help us bring about
permanent change so children can have a happy, healthy, protected
childhood, forever. We look forward to your constant support; so that
together we can ensure lasting change for children across India.
No comments:
Post a Comment