Survival of the Girl Child in India
Rajni Sheth
January 08, 2008
A world of the girl child is full of love, warmth and concern. She is the procreator and the mother of tomorrow. She is the one who shapes the destiny of civilization and imparts values and virtues to the future. Unfortunately this beautiful world is gloomy and filled with despair. The color of innocence is ironically transforming into color of suppression. This beautiful creation of God has become the gravest concern today. Her world is filled with despair and she is left alone on a barren land searching for a warm touch, mother’s love and father’s lullaby.
Traditions and rituals are outlining the survival of the girl child in India. Even though the country has made remarkable growth in various fields, it is tragically representing the lowest sex ratio. Patriarchal norms, low status of women and son idolism are the primary reasons that cause bias against girl child in India. The shocking decline of girl-boy ratio has alarmed future of India. The Census report indicates a highly skewed gender ratio that fell from 976 girls born every 1000 boys to 927 girls every 1000 boys in 2001. In various parts of the country like Rajasthan, Haryana and Rajasthan the ratio has even declined to 800:1000.
Not only female feticide and infanticide, a series of other discrepancy like lack of girl education, lack of nutrition, early marriage and absense of basic necessities are also attached to the gravest concern of humanity. Lack of education holds the girl child to a low standard of living and provides inability to expose her skills and knowledge. Educating a girl is education a whole family but who understands that.
She is deprived of the basic right to education and is unable to realize her potential and develop civic sense. Figures also report that there is discrimination even in the field of higher education. Almost 50% of girls are not allowed to pursue education and those who manage to enter schools are dragged out by the conservative familial ideologies at the age of 12.
According to Indian law, it is illegal to facilitate marriage of a girl under the age of 18 but who follows the rule. Research done by UNICEF indicated illegal marriage of almost 82 percent of girls. These girls are forced to get married before the age of 18 and the maximum illegal practice of early girl marriage is claimed in Rajasthan. Rural areas of the country witness 15% of girl getting married before 13 and 52% girls getting pregnant between 15 and 19 years of age. Other areas that practice illegal marriage under 18 include Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Bhopal and Punjab. Despite of various promotional events, Government regulations and the increasing testimony of Indian women, the social evil of ill-treating a girl child is still prevailing in the country.
More articles on Girl Child in India.
Traditions and rituals are outlining the survival of the girl child in India. Even though the country has made remarkable growth in various fields, it is tragically representing the lowest sex ratio. Patriarchal norms, low status of women and son idolism are the primary reasons that cause bias against girl child in India. The shocking decline of girl-boy ratio has alarmed future of India. The Census report indicates a highly skewed gender ratio that fell from 976 girls born every 1000 boys to 927 girls every 1000 boys in 2001. In various parts of the country like Rajasthan, Haryana and Rajasthan the ratio has even declined to 800:1000.
Not only female feticide and infanticide, a series of other discrepancy like lack of girl education, lack of nutrition, early marriage and absense of basic necessities are also attached to the gravest concern of humanity. Lack of education holds the girl child to a low standard of living and provides inability to expose her skills and knowledge. Educating a girl is education a whole family but who understands that.
She is deprived of the basic right to education and is unable to realize her potential and develop civic sense. Figures also report that there is discrimination even in the field of higher education. Almost 50% of girls are not allowed to pursue education and those who manage to enter schools are dragged out by the conservative familial ideologies at the age of 12.
According to Indian law, it is illegal to facilitate marriage of a girl under the age of 18 but who follows the rule. Research done by UNICEF indicated illegal marriage of almost 82 percent of girls. These girls are forced to get married before the age of 18 and the maximum illegal practice of early girl marriage is claimed in Rajasthan. Rural areas of the country witness 15% of girl getting married before 13 and 52% girls getting pregnant between 15 and 19 years of age. Other areas that practice illegal marriage under 18 include Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Bhopal and Punjab. Despite of various promotional events, Government regulations and the increasing testimony of Indian women, the social evil of ill-treating a girl child is still prevailing in the country.
More articles on Girl Child in India.
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