Save the Girl Child

“Save the Girl Child” is a social initiative in India to fight against the practice of female
foeticide.

Our present Prime Minister has requested every section of the society to give whole hearted
support to the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao“ abhiyan (initiative). ‘Beth Bachao’ means ‘save
girl child’ and ‘Beth Padhao’ means ‘educate the girl child.’
 There is a girl abandoned, killed – either before or
after birth, or abused every minute in India.
 Millions of girls are abandoned every day – as
mothers do not want them, cannot afford them or are
forced to do so.
Discrimination:
Discrimination against girls in India has been
going on since ages now. Even today, there
are several sections of the Indian society
where the girl child is treated as a burden.
While several privileges are given to the boys;
girls are often restricted to the confines of
house and given very little or no opportunities
to learn and grow in life. It is a matter of great
shame that cases of female infanticide are
still reported. As per the figures of 2011
census, there are just 918 girls in India for 1000
boys.
Causes of female foeticide
Various scholars have suggested different possible causes for the
problem of female fortitude.

1. Low position of women: Women have been subjected to

injustice since ages. Some people feel that the birth of girl child
may lower their status in the society. There is an extreme desire for
boy-child among some sections of our society.

2. Extreme poverty: People who live in extreme poor condition

often think that the girl child would cause more economic
hardship to them. The social evil of dowry system further worsens
the situation. Some people think that they will to have to arrange
for huge dowry for her marriage.
3. Illiteracy: Illiteracy is the leading of all social evils.
Illiterate people are ignorant people, and not able to
judge their actions in the right perspective.

4. Dowry system: Dowry system refers to the custom of

paying money and other valuables to the groom’s
family at the time of marriage. This tradition was
probably introduced to give financial assistance to
the newly wed couple. However, often, it is seen that
the greedy family members of the groom’s family
demand huge amount of money at the time of
marriage. Dowry is viewed as a huge burden by the
parents of the girl-child. (Please note that dowry is
prohibited by law in India. )
How to save girl child?
1. Women empowerment: The women need to be
empowered. A woman has every right to give birth to a
baby. The girl child is a blessing of God. Just give her a
chance, and she will make you proud with her
achievements.

2. Awareness: Every citizen of civilized society should be

made aware of the fact that a girl child is as important
as a boy child. If she gets the right opportunity, she can
provide economic support to the family and help them
to come out of poverty level.

3. Education: Education raises the consciousness of a

person. The mental pattern in favor of society should be
transformed. This is the time for historic changes in the
society. (Also read about women education here.)
How to save girl child after her birth?

The girl child is not only unsafe inside her mother’s womb.
Even after her birth, she has to face various hardships
because of gender inequality. We must save the girl child
after her birth as well.

We all agree that girls’ education is very important. The

girls should get a safe and comfortable environment at
schools.
The girl should get equal access to the educational
resources of the school.
There should be separate toilets for girl-children at schools.
There is need for a shift in mental attitude in favor of
equality between boys and girls.
The belief that only a male-child can support the parents
during the old age doesn’t hold true in today’s context. A
girl can take care and support her family as well.
The family members of the girl child should come forward
to protect her rights, both within and outside her home.
Support
The ‘save the child girl, educate the girl
child’ initiative is actively supported by the
Government, corporate groups, human
rights activists and NGOS.

Under the initiative of ‘Beti Bachao Beti

Padhao’, several social organizations have
come forward to build toilet at girl schools.

The corporate India, as part of their

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is
also earmarking funds for the welfare of
school going girls.
Legal status of prenatal sex determination

According to the laws prevailing in India, the determination of

prenatal sex during pregnancy is illegal and punishable by law.

It is unfortunate that people still misuse the ultrasonography

(diagnostic sonography) scan to determine the sex of the
unborn baby. There is a need for:

Strict enforcement of laws relating to medical scanning.

Impart moral teachings on doctors.
Educate people that there is no difference between a girl and
a boy child.
 Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao Scheme (BBBP) of the
Indian Government
Literally meaning ‘Educate the Girl Child, Save the
Girl Child’ the Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao Scheme is
an ambitious scheme of the Government of India
which is intended to generate massive awareness,
improvement of quality of welfare services for
females and helping them (girls and women)
access these services better. Introduced in October
of 2014, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme goes
on to address the declining Child Sex Ratio in the
country. The scheme is being rolled out through
pan-India campaigns with focus on 100 worst-
performing districts in terms of CSR. It is a joint
initiative of three important Central Government
ministries – the Ministry of Women and Child
Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
and Ministry of Human Resource Development.