At a time when India as a nation and Maharashtra as a state is preventing lakhs of girls from being born (see info tables below), there is still a ray of hope.
Recently, a group of Pune parents with a single girl child, formed a forum for like minded parents to promote and celebrate the single-girl child. Girls excel in academics, sports and almost all fields of activity. Young women are storming the workplace and rising to the top in government, politics and the corporate world. This country has even had a lady prime minister and president. We must therefore celebrate the birth of a girl child. Sakal Times profiles four families who have a single girl child and are loving it…
MOTHERS FROM ONE-GIRL CHILD FAMILIES SPEAK
Kokila Modi, homoeopath
The obsession of Indians for a male child is probably rooted in the orthodox thinking which even education and exposure have not been able to eradicate. A male child is looked at as a support who will take care of his parents in old age. In so many educated families, the girl is allowed to study and get a degree but not allowed to work. Girls are extremely important because they are girls. They are complimentary to men. They are more sensitive than men.
Vaishali Marathe, homemaker
Despite some exceptions, overall the thinking of the society is changing towards the girl child, at least in urban areas. I don’t think Indians are now that obsessed with male child as they used to be a few decades back because girls too are at par with boys. They too take care of parents and settle in their careers. Girls are important to balance the society. If there are no females, the balance of the society is lost. Can even men imagine a world without mothers, sister, wife, daughters ?
Pallavi Pundalik-Shivalkar, physiotherapist
I am a proud mother of a five-year-old girl.We adopted her out of our choice and she is everything for me. My husband’s family and mine have been extremely supportive of our decision to adopt a girl child. There is a definite obsession in India for a male child. In this ‘progressive’ society, people are still averse to having a girl child.The social reasons are created by a prejudiced society and there is a need to change the mindset. There is nothing that a girl child cannot achieve if given access to good education, good nutrition, and good healthcare. Today’s girl child, tomorrow’s woman is the building block of an empowered nation.
Kavita Mulye, family and child welfare counsellor
The Indian obsession for a male child is due to our age old customs and traditions. ‘Vanshacha Diva’ is a deeply rooted concept in our society. It is also assumed that a son is the support parents need in their old age. Our demographics shows that the gender ratio is declining. It creates social imbalance. That’s why saving the girl child is important. It has been proved that girls can do as well and even better than boys, if they are provided the same opportunities. Girls are the true assets of every family. They take care of parents, family and business as well. Girls can be reliable, strong support.
A Ray of Hope
Pune parents with only one daughter have formed the Sahasamvedana Gat, which is creating awareness on girl child issues. The group meets on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. They hold discussions and lectures to understand and discuss the issues related to girl child. The group is also working on a street play on the topic. To join the group, parents can contact 96572-72743.
Five districts in the State with the worst child gender ratio as per 2011 census. (Females for every 1000 males)
- Beed – 801
- Ahmednagar – 839
- Jalgaon – 829
- Buldana – 842
- Kolhapur – 845
Five states with the worst child gender ratio as per 2011 census.
- Haryana – 830
- Punjab – 846
- J&K – 859
- Delhi – 866
- Maharashtra and Rajasthan – 883