Archana Datta
Our ancient scriptures say that ‘Yatra naryastu pujyanter amante tatra devataha’— where women are worshiped there the Gods reside. The Upanishads declare that -Ekam sat viprah bahuda vadanthi’ —there is only one reality in this world, described in many ways. Man and woman are the two manifestations of one supreme power and are equal in strength, power and disposition. Such was the lofty status given to women in our ancient scriptures and society. Sadly, over the ages, women became subject to social exclusion, multiple deprivation and mental and physical abuse.
The vicious cycle of inequality perpetuated a decline in the status of women and fostered lop-sided development. In the 21st century, a paradoxical situation exists when a section of them have made a place for themselves in society, yet a large number remains deprived of the right to live with dignity and, moreover, a girl child is deemed unworthy of life itself. To have inclusive growth, it is imperative to ensure that women in all situations get equal opportunity to live and lead a life of their choice.
The Census 2011 is an eye opener as it records an all-time low Child Sex Ratio (CSR) of 918, which is the number of girls per thousand boys, between the age group of 0-6 years. The declining sex ratio is in existence in every part of the country– rural, urban and tribal areas. It is an alarming situation, which will alter the demographic profile of the country, and requires immediate action to reverse this dangerous trend to prevent further erosion of gender justice.
To arrest this declining trend and ensure women’s education, a national programme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), launched by Prime Minister in January in Haryana needs special attention by all States. A joint initiative of the Ministries of Women & Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resources Development its twin objectives are: to protect a girl child of her right to be born and her right to life, and to empower her with education and life skills.
Interestingly, the place selected for the launch carries significance, with Haryana being one of the worst performers on CSR. It has just 877 females per 1000 males, and in case of 0-6 years, the figure is as low as 830, as per Census 2011.
Indeed, the launch highlights the urgency of the situation and the need to reverse this dangerous demographic trend. Only if there is collective responsibility to end this ‘terrible crisis’ will it have far reaching consequences on future generations. People must turn the birth of a girl child into an ‘Anandotsav’ and a community celebration. To give it additional boost, the Government has launched the “Sukanya Samriddhi Account” for the girl child’s education. The current year’s Budget proposal for 2015-16, gives it a tax break on its accrued annual interest of 9.1%.
Initially, 100 Gender Critical districts in all States and UTs have been earmarked for focussed attention. There is need for a multi-sectoral approach, which lays stress on mass mobilisation and community participation. In campaign mode, it has several monitorable targets. One is to improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in identified gender critical districts by 10 points a year. The other is to reduce gender differentials in under-Five Child Mortality Rate from 8 points in 2011 to 4 points by 2017. It sets the target to increase girl enrolment in secondary education from 76% in 2013-14 to 79% by 2017 and provide toilets for girls in every school in the 100 CSR districts by 2017. A tall order, but if there is a will, there’s a way.
Further, the campaign is all set to work towards curbing sex-selective abortion, improve the nutritional status of girls by reducing the number of underweight and anaemic girls under the age of 5, and promote a protective environment for the girl child through implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
However, the key to success of any programme has to be community participation with involvement of local leaders. Only then would any mass mobilisation programme be successful which primarily targets at changes in attitude and behavioural pattern. Therefore, the campaign strongly advocates for the association of all local leaders and grass-root functionaries who will be trained as community champions.
The major plank, however, on which this mass mobilisation movement should be based, is on the creation of an enabling environment for the birth of a girl child. Recall the example of Jayapura village in Varanasi, where the birth of a girl child is a cause for celebration and five trees are planted on each such occasion. There is need for every village to emulate such celebrations. And, the campaign has this on its agenda.
Importantly, the programme lays stress on generating a supportive atmosphere for the birth of a girl child — both at home and at the community level. Creation of awareness about safe motherhood, delivery and worth of a girl child is a step in this direction. It envisages promotion of awareness for early registration of pregnancy in the first trimester at the Health Centres for pre-natal and post-natal care and counselling of mothers. For this, it is imperative that community watch groups like women panchayat members, trained teachers, youth groups, and other local leaders be identified to act as facilitators.
With regard to ensuring enrolment of girls in schools, the programme speaks of activating School Management Committees for universal enrolment of girls through special drives and creation of Balika Manches, or Girls’ Forum, which should help bring back drop outs.
Further, there is provision for incentives and awards to the SMCs which enrol 100% girls at the primary level and also retains them in the first year, and for transition of 100% girls from class V into class VI, from class VIII to class IX and from class X to class XI. The competition to encourage girl’s enrolment and retention is open to all Government schools.
Apart from this, the campaign proposes organising mass events like Naari Chaupal, Beti Janmotsav, and monthly celebration of BBBP programme as an event other than observation of National Girl Child Day and International Women’s Day for a sustained impact. To fight against socio-cultural prejudices, it envisages mounting more girl or women-centric festivities such as celebration of Lohri for the birth of a daughter, siblings tying rakhis to each etc.
The sensitisation campaign should hopefully also bring positive reinforcements in favour of a girl child like daughters as providers of old age security to parents and the benefits of simple weddings to protect parents from financial burden of dowry and equal property rights for daughters and sons and prevention of early and child marriage.
The declining sex ratio is a cause for concern and its persistence has serious implications for our society and the future of humankind. Providing education to a girl child is to empower a large section of the population. With the programmes focussed interventions in 100 gender critical districts, fingers will be kept crossed for it to make the desired impact on the socio-cultural landscape of the country and pave the way for inclusive and sustained growth.
(The author is former DG, DD News/NSD,Air)
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