THE GIRL CHILD

Recently an expecting mother, married in Meerut, U.P, struggling with labour pain, was asked by her husband in the presence of her mother, “Agar Ladki ko Janam Diya to Zinda Jaladunga”. The poor woman fortunately gave birth to a male baby

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August 17, 2022

Recently an expecting mother, married in Meerut, U.P, struggling with labour pain, was asked by her husband in the presence of her mother, “Agar Ladki ko Janam Diya to Zinda Jaladunga”. The poor woman fortunately gave birth to a male baby. Then an attempt was made to set her ablaze by her in-laws for not getting gifts and cash from her mother but she jumped from the second floor and screamed for help to neighbours, who called police and her in-laws are behind the bars. SYED ADFAR RASHID SHAH asserts that this is a true incident occurred at J.B. Panth Hospital, Asif Ali Road, New Delhi.

Of course we observe days for women, children, and the elderly, etc. as usual and few interactions or seminars are organised and speeches made or papers presented pertaining to the girl child and her problems, and a tremendous lip service is paid mostly by academics for their own academic excellence and/or promotions. But it is highly pathetic that issue remains the same amidst these regular celebrations. Every now and then we come across the discourses that female gender is being tortured and exploited in many ways.

If we are to observe a day dedicated to girls and women in full spirit, these should be the days to evaluate girls’ progress, development, sustenance, survival, progress and personality development, uplift, educational attainment, work ratio improvement, egalitarian view and gender justice. This should be the day to punish those who commit crimes against them, who bruise and malaise their individuality.

This should not be the day to talk about them in ivory towers but a day to form and apply stringent laws to curb their exploitation. Let us not just talk or observe days or dedicate important event days to them only. Let us work out something soothing and comforting to them. Let us not just repeat the same story; let us work with vigour and attention to empower this vulnerable section of society in the real sense. Let us help, encourage and enable their dreams to get accomplished.

Today hard and bitter challenges are beset to them. We see the value of a male child in our patriarchal society has ensured a different treatment of the girl child in comparison with the male child. The practice of female feticide is now so rampant. Over a period of years in holistic India, there has been a greater urge for male child as well; the extent of sex determination test is in its full speed with little concern and control of the government.

Our hair also turns white overnight when a girl child is born because of the feeling of burden and responsibility of bringing her up. Whereas the birth of a male child is highly celebrated with different customs and accepting the gifts and cash from bride’s family but a mournful atmosphere is seen at many places where girl child is born, as if some catastrophe hits or some tragic accident happens. Those who give birth to male child feel proud and those who give birth to a girl child feel sad and ashamed. It is estimated that six million abortions are performed every year outside the ambit of the pregnancy termination act.

Today’s girl child is tomorrow’s woman and future mother. Instead of feeling happy on her birth, we try to get rid of her in the womb, which reflects in the adverse sex ratio leading to the increase in crimes against women. Today we see many unfavourable gender indices like wife beating, rape, sexual violence and abuse, eve-teasing, domestic violence, ill-treatment, discrimination, aggression, etc. against her. She is fast turning to be an endangered entity as she remains a drudge, is kept illiterate especially among the conservative and orthodox, is fed inadequately, and married off as earlier as possible to shun the burden.

A girl child is first not let to come to the world; even if she comes, 80 per cent of her entity spends time helping mothers in daily chores. We treat her as Aatey ka Diya (a lamp made out of wheat flour) i.e. if it is at home, mice will chew on it, and if it is put outside the house, crows will bite on it. Thus she is taken as a huge responsibility and a pain is felt to bring her up. Nothing happens after every March 8, June 4, or January 24. Mere contemplation of government to earmark an amount of Rs.5000 in the name of a new born girl child from BPL families is not enough and will never do the needful. But the government is liable to make those, who have involvement in violations of her human, social and gender rights, accountable.

Here we have an urgent need for better documentation, monitoring and reporting of the extreme sufferings caused by armed conflict or turmoil inflicted on girls. We have to see their killing and maiming; we have to see the cases of rape and sexual violence against them, sexual exploitation, abduction, forced marriages, increasing girls exposure to HIV/AIDS etc. Organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have reportedly documented cases of shooting, stabbing, mutilating, carving, amputating and burning girls alive.

Not to talk of the world, we have many cases of dowry deaths in India and honour killings are increasing like anything. We have to equip boys with respect towards girls and women. We have to equip girls with skills that can take care of them by making them independent and acquainted with modern knowledge and technology.

Focus should be given to girl child programmes; the government should start campaigns against domestic violence, discrimination and girl child neglect. All the schemes running for their progress and advancement must be assessed and evaluated and the need of the hour is to introduce more programmes in their favour as observance of a day dedicated to them means that they are our greater asset and important part.

We have to treat them as humans and be affectionate to them right from their childhood. Let us learn the art of parenting, art of being good husbands, good brothers and let us listen to their heart; let us guide them without oppression to make them familiar with religious ethos. Let us give them their due and safeguard them in every respect. We have to be respectful towards them and guard their identity and individuality.

Now even discourses on women have led to different schools of thought like feminist school that asserts rather emphasises women rights. However the question remains whom to address these vital issues and whom to ask to change the prevailing alarming situation. Let us start it from our home and pay heed to the aspirations and sensitivities of our own female chunk. That is what we common masses can do.

[SYED ADFAR RASHID SHAH is doctoral scholar of Sociology in Jamia Millia Islamia. He can be reached at [email protected].]