By acquiring three first positions as well as 10 in top 25 for Civil Services Examinations conducted by UPSC, Indian women have exhibited that they are not less than men in any respect. It is indeed unfortunate that even now people in general, rich or poor alike, take birth of girl-child as bane rather than boon. Though in time to come, practically ‘Dowry’ system may take U-turn when it will become difficult to find suitable brides for eligible bachelors because of unnatural and disturbed sex-ratio created by large-scale female foeticide, the Union Government should take concrete steps so as to make people take birth of girl-child rather a necessity.
Mere celebrating Girl-Child day on January 24 every year is not enough. Registration of properties in women’s names showed remarkable rise in Delhi after stamp-duty on such deals was subsidized for women. Union and state governments should take all possible measures for similar concessions like reduction of VAT on items like vehicles registered in name of women. Some fields like dentists and gynaecologists in medical science should be exclusively for women or at least 75 per cent reservation for women. Presently girl-child is taken as an unwanted burden because of increasing expenses in their marriages. India should follow Pakistan by allowing only simple beverages in marriage-related functions. Mega-budgeted marriages should not be attended by leaders on posts.
Madhu Agrawal
Delhi