Observation of 24th January 2010 as the National Girl Child Day

By Eugene Moodubelle

24 January 2010: Since the past few years India is growing dynamically in every field. The economic boom, innovative technologies and improved infrastructure has become nation’s pride. The country has witnessed advancements in all fields. However, it is one of the greatest concerns for the right thinking Indians that bias against a girl child is still prevailing in the country. Realising the seriousness of neglecting the issues related to a girl child, in 2009, the former United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government under the prime ministership of Dr. Manmohna Singh took a momentous decision to observe 24th January every year as the National Girl Child Day to coincide the date of swearing in of late Mrs. Indira Gandhi as the first prime minister of India on 24th January 1966.

The proposal to observe 24th January every year as the National Girl Child Day was initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development last year (2009) when Mrs. Renuka Choudhari was in charge of the ministry. For the National Girl Child Day the earlier slogan of ‘Save the Girl Child’ is being replaced by ‘My daughter-Nation’s Pride’.

It is a well-known fact that In spite of gradual advance in education and economic progress, the girl child still suffers due to various disabilities such as inferior status in family and society, various types of  crime  and domestic violence. The incidence of female foeticide has been increasing over the years denying the girl child the right to be born.

The sex determination tests and abortion of female foetus has resulted in a skewed sex ratio. Census figures reveal that the female-male sex ratio in the country had declined to 927 girls for every thousand boys in the year 2001. If this trend continues, the number of female children will drastically reduce which may ultimately result in many undesirable practices such as polyandry, trafficking and forced marriages.

Even after the girl child is born, she is discriminated against in many ways in terms of nutrition, education and health. She is also a victim to a number of atrocities and violence such as rape, trafficking, early marriage and pregnancies and high maternal and child mortality. The general perception of the people towards the girl child has been that of a burden on the family and not an asset.

In order to protect the girl child, promote her welfare and safeguard her rights, the government has introduced a number of legislations such as the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (1994), the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (2005), the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (1986) and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (1956). However, these acts are followed more in breach than in compliance which has resulted in the perpetuation of the miserable condition of the girl child.

Realising the continued apathy of the society towards the girl child, the government has rightly decided to observe the National Girl Child Day on 24th January every year in order to make the nation aware of the need to improve the status of the girl and women as a step in the process of nation building. The government has undertaken a number of steps and implemented various measures for the benefit of the girl child. These measures include: Kishori Shakti Yojana, National Programme for Nutrition for Adolescents Girls,  Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level, the Scheme of ‘Dhanalakshmi’, ‘Palna or Cradle Baby Scheme’ to prevent female foeticide by rescuing unwanted baby girls and placing them in loving adoptive families and the ‘Ujjawala Scheme’, a comprehensive scheme for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration and repatriation of victims of trafficking of commercial sexual exploitation. Government has taken seriously the need to educate the girl child and providing nutritious food through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Any amount of legislation or welfare measures in favour of the girl child will have no meaning unless the society in general changes its attitude in relation to the girl child in particular and the women in general.  Girl child is the future of every nation and India is no exception. A little amount of care, a handful of warmth and a hear full of love for a girl child can make a big difference. It is important that the society gives honourable status to the girl child in the family and society and consider the girl child as an asset rather than a burden.