Welcome to the world of the girl child. Her story across country is
promising yet gloomy, hopeful yet mired in despair. A girl child is the
hand that rocks the cradle, the procreator, and the mother of tomorrow
as it is the woman who shapes the destiny of civilization.
History is full of examples of successful women who have been leaders
in various walks of life. Yet the irony is that a creation as beautiful
as the girl child is also one of the gravest concerns we as a society
are facing due to varied factors.
January 24, is a special day, at least for the 625,798,954 (625
million) population of India — the female population. It is National
Girl Child Day which India has been observing since 2008. The message
behind this is – protect the girl child.
Now the question arises are we really protecting them particularly when
it comes to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim majority
state, where red flags flattered after the 2011 Census exposed its
female child ratio had gone down below Haryana and other north Indian
states notorious for female fetal abortions?
Sharing her experiences vis-a-vis birth gender selection, a
Valley-based gynecologist Dr. Shahida Mir, says that mostly couples are
obsessed with boys, particularly when it is their first child. They
come to me and say they want a boy. I tell them 'God decides.' They
don't realize that doctors cannot do anything about the sex of the baby.
They go to Peers (god men).
Would-be mothers, during pregnancy, are under tremendous stress as
in-laws and other relatives want nothing but a baby boy. In the delivery
room if it is a boy they forget all the pain. If it's a girl they start
complaining about the pain. Family celebrates when it is a boy; they
ignore the mother if it is a girl.
Even at the time of paying the hospital bill, if it is male child they will happily pay but grouse if it's a girl.
Dr Mir says: “For boys the parents will tell us to save the child till
the last minute. When it is a girl they prefer to take the child home
after sometime. They don't try their best at times”.
Dr. Mir believes, there is hardly any difference between the
‘illiterate and literate couples’ when it comes to the male child. Even
rich and literate couple wants a male child when it is the first child.
They feel that if they have a boy first they don't have to worry about
later children.
Although government is running many campaigns to save the girl child,
but its focus is on government hospitals. “Female feticide happens in
private hospitals. Private hospitals must be encouraged to join the save
the girl child campaign. Around 5-10 pregnant mothers go to government
hospitals while rest opt to go to private ones. The focus should be on
private hospitals and private doctors,” believes she.
In order to change societal perception towards the girl child, in
November, 2015, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, launched the ‘Ladli Beti
scheme’ in seven districts of the state including Srinagar, Budgam,
Pulwama and Anantnag in Kashmir Division.
Under the scheme, girls who took birth on or after April 1st 2015 will
get Rs.6.5 lakh on attaining the age of 21. Girl child born to parents
whose annual income is less than Rs.75000 per annum will be eligible
under the scheme.
As many as Rs.1000 per month will be deposited towards the birth of
every girl child with effect from April 01, 2015 for the next 14 years.
Mufti also launched scheme AASRA, which is a social assistance scheme
aimed at insuring low-income group families having annual income less
than Rs.75000. In case of the death of the bread earner, widows and
destitute, Rs. 2 lakh will be provided while Rs. 1 lakh will be provided
in case of disability due to injury.
The scheme aims to provide not only much-needed economic security to
the girl child born in a poor family but is also a huge relief to those
poor parents who live from hand-to-mouth.
However, lawyer and social activist, Abdul Rashid Hanjoora believes
that such schemes always look attractive, but on ground nothing is being
done for their implementation.
“These (Ladli Beti and AASRA) schemes have been recently launched in
the state, in a way it’s a new baby in the market and what needs to be
seen, around what percentage of funds will be allotted to the schemes in
the coming budget session,” Hanjoora said.
“If at all funds are allocated, then one has to wait for when that
money will come to the department and after that when the same will
deposited in the beneficiaries’ accounts,” said he.
Then comes the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ (BBBP) scheme launched by
Indian Prime Minister in January 2015. The BBBP scheme is a joint
initiative of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development.
“Not much has been done with the regard to this by the departments
concerned here. Not to talk of city but rural belts of Kashmir has the
low literacy rates. Women section is particularly deprived of this basic
right to education,” says Hanjoora.
“Beti Bachao” is the principal determinant of the success of its twin,
“Beti Padhao”. Before she can reap the benefits of education, a girl
child needs to be protected. She needs to be protected as a fetus, as a
newborn, as a student; she needs to be saved from hunger and
malnutrition, from child marriage and domestic abuse; and, above all,
her safety ensured from a society that views her very attempt to step
out of home – – for work or play — with suspicion and hostility, an
attitude which often culminates in harassment, rape or even murder,” he
opines.
The union government has pledged Rs 100 crore for its high profile,
high decibel Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign. “In fact, it should
pledge whatever it takes to make the society safe for girls and women,”
says he.
“Punish those who commit offences against girls and women. Sensitize
the police. They can also give schoolboys mandatory lessons on the fact
that girls are equal participants in every sphere of the society and
must be viewed and treated as such. Infact religious leaders can also
play a big role in this regard.”
Indeed, unless you create a free, gender-just and safe environment for
girls, they will never realize their potential – educational or
otherwise. There lies the real challenge of Modi’s Beti Bachao, Beti
Padhao campaign and the schemes announced by the government in Jammu and
Kashmir.
- The author can be reached at zeenatfazil149@gmail.com.
Source : http://dailykashmirimages.com/
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