‘Balika Janmotsav’, a festival to celebrate the girl child has been launched in 12 villages of  Barmer in Rajasthan by We Can allies

As part of the six-year, six-country campaign to end violence against women in South Asia titled ‘We Can’, a unique initiative ‘Balika Janmotsav’ has been launched in 12 villages of  Barmer in Rajasthan.
 

Lent shape by Vikalp Sansthan, CFAR (Delhi) and the Tata Education Trust, the aim behind this enterprise is to start a process of lending life chances, identity, equality, health, education, opportunities and capacities to girl children in the state so that the idea gains credibility and acceptance in other states and countries.
 

In India, particularly in Rajasthan, the arrival of a girl child is greeted with dismay and the mother is socially ostracized. The girl grows up in an environment of non acceptance and denial.
 

The situation is no different in South Asia. Half of the women in this region face violence in their home. Girl children and women in South Asia have less to eat than men, are denied education, have little access to health services, and are much less likely to have a job and little or no control over property.
 

The ‘We Can’ campaign recognises violence against women is rooted in gender inequality and that whether in homes or outside, it reflects the power structures in society which relegate the status of women in society to be only that after men.
 

Its starting point is, thus, to deal with conditions that systematically deny women their lives, health, rights, choices and power in the family in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In Rajasthan, the ‘Balika Janmotsav’ was celebrated as part of the ‘We Can’ activities on 24 September 2009. As part of this enterprise, people from 12 villages in Barmer got together to honour 40 new born girls, between a month and three months old in their communities, , in a bid to break away from the social norm that devalues and discounts girl children.

 The new born girls were honoured with a shawl and a photograph of the mother and the child. A plant was also planted for each of the girl children and the saplings were named after the girls.

The District Pramukh, Mrs. Madan Kaur, Barmer, who was the chief guest said, “Bias against the girl child is the first step towards an equal society. We are making attempts to implement the PCPNDT Act so that girls can gain their rightful place in society and live with dignity and respect.”
 

The organisers wish to adopt this festival as a yearly tradition to challenge entrenched attitudes and behaviours and women’s unequal access to social, political and economic opportunities

Along with the organisers, many others joined efforts. The gram panchayat, the government middle school and the District Coordination Committee in Jasai played a huge role. The festival was also attended by  ahuge gathering of people that included VHRC members, anganwadi workers, ANMs and members of many women’s groups.

The reactions of women whose children were honoured enthusiastic: Mrs Godavari, Village Hathama, said, “I am delighted that my daughter has been welcomed so beautifully. I intend to educate her and treat her with respect and dignity so that other women see this and do the same with their daughters.”
 

Mrs Noji Devi, of village Jasai, said, “When people complement my two engineer daughters today, I feel very proud. Had I not allowed them to study, my children’s growth would not have flowered but got stunted. I hope others see the merit of treating their daughters like their sons and give them as many opportunities.”