Many of you would have read the article "Save the Girl Child, pleads Manmohan" in Times Of India on April 29th, 2008. I couldn't help but agonize over it. Here we are living in the 20th century, the year is 2008, and to hear such a plea from the Prime Minister of our country to stop the "inhuman and uncivilized practice" of female foeticide depicts the truly remorseful state of girls in our nation. India's child sex ratio (i.e. number of girls per 1000 boys ) is only 927, and states like Punjab and Haryana are among the worst offenders with child sex ratios of only 798 and 819! The norm is usually a higher number of girls compared to boys.
While our government is tackling this grievous situation by cracking down on medical practitioners and enforcing the Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques Act which makes it illegal to reveal the sex of the child before it is born, is this the sustainable solution?
How about empowering the girl child by educating her? Discrimination against the girl child may begin before the girl is born in India, but it persists in the event she is allowed to be born. She is normally housebound and as a result of gender stereotyping is confined to doing household chores such as cooking, cleaning, fetching water, looking after younger siblings or elderly and sick relatives. Education is considered to be of secondary importance, and is only given consideration if there are no costs attached to it. While government schools are free, parents balk even at the costs of uniforms, notebooks etc and would rather not send their girls to school than pay for these. It's no wonder then that the drop out rate for girls in India even at primary school level is almost 40%!
While many Not for Profits are working on stemming this drop out rate, the Mahindra group, through their Nanhi Kali project, have encouraged corporates and individuals to participate in this change process by sponsoring a girl's education. For a sum as little as Rs 1800 or $65, the Nanhi Kali project provides not only academic support to the girls but also provides them with material support in the form of uniforms, school bags, notebooks and even underclothes. Our implementation partner, Naandi Foundation works within the community and sensitizes them on gender issues.
On a recent trip to a Nanhi Kali project area in an impoverished tribal area in Udaipur, Anita, a differently abled Nanhi Kali pulled me aside and lead me to her home. The project worker told me that Anita was studying in the 7th Std and is considered the brightest girl in her class. Anita's home consisted of a 2 room muddy hut, of which one room had no walls. The second room was dark, dingy with no windows or ventilation. Apart from a couple of utensils, Anita's house was completely bare. Later I was stunned to hear that the only clothes Anita possessed were the 2 pairs of uniforms given to her from Nanhi Kali!
Anita has the potential to become a software engineer. She has the potential to transform not only her life, but that of her family as well.
Through the Nanhi Kali project, we will ensure this happens. We will educate her, teach her life skills, and groom her to become the role model for her community. Once she becomes independent and a bread winner, and takes care of her family, wouldn't the community look at her with a different mindset? Would they still think of killing their girls?
Or would this triggmer a sustainable change?
Join the Nanhi Kali movement at www.nanhikali.org to be a part of this change process.
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