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SHALVI SHARMA

ADMISSION NO . HPGD/OC14/1328

SOCIAL CAUSE: “SAVE A GIRL CHILD”

NAME OF THE NGO: S.G.C.O

PRIN. L. N. WELINGKAR INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH

SESSION( )

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S.NO

INDEX PAGE

NO.

1. INTRODUCTION 1

1.1. SOCIAL CONTEXT OF NGO

1.2. SOCIAL PROBLEMS

1.3. ECONOMICAL PROBLEMS

1.4. PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

1.5 HEALTH PROBLEMS

2. DISCUSSION ABOUT VARIOUS KEY ISSUES

3.

DISCUSSION ABOUT S.G.C.O

4. DETAILS ABOUT S.G.C.O

5.

RECOMMENDATION

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY

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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

India is one of the creating countries of the current world. It has ended up free nation yet the

country as yet confronting social issues like destitution, unemployment, separation, wellbeing,

female foeticide, and so on.

Vast segment of the general public is experiencing neediness. Equitably destitution suggests

dehumanizing condition in which individuals can't care for the fundamental needs. Needy

individuals do not have the vital assets and ability to fulfill the fundamental needs like

nourishment, asylum, wellbeing and training. Neediness meddles with improvement from

multiple points of view. For example absence of or insufficient nourishment captures mental

advancement amid right on time adolescence

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The venture endeavours to give a thought regarding the different Individual Social obligations

(ISR) and mindfulness about the necessity of how we as people can perform our social

obligation. The social reason on which I have dealt with in this task is - Save Girl Child'. A

brief understanding is given on NGO – Save Girl Child Organization, chipping away at to

spare the Girl Child which is real worry in India. The same is the subject of the undertaking.

At last an endeavour is made to make a video and highlighting their world.

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Social Context of NGO:

The Organization for Eradication of illiteracy and Poverty seeks to awaken the social

consciousness of society towards its own ills. We are challenging the formation of conscience

in order to bring about a social change where one lives in a classless and unbiased society. Dr.

Bernard Malik is the Director of this organization. He has strong belief in the basic goodness

of human beings. Human beings have a strong instinct to choose good over evil. Therefore

Dr. Malik believes education is the key to resolve the evils of the society. The lack of

education is the cause of many problems around. Education provides freedom from illiteracy

and poverty. Literacy serves as an instrument of poverty alleviation. Therefore Dr. Bernard

Malik founded the Organization for Eradication of Illiteracy and Poverty. By this he seeks to

affect a worldwide campaign of educational empowerment.

INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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1.1. SOCIAL PROBLEMS

ECONOMIC ISSUES.

The greatest social issue pervasive in our general public is one bubble out of monetary

difference can make a considerable measure of social unseemliness and indecencies. The later

of financial issues is that of monetary retreat in Europe and the world on the loose. This

Global retreat has prompted the cut of work-and it might even influence the per capital wage,

absence of employer stability and over the long haul, youngsters are denied of training in light

of the fact that their guardians have no occupations any longer. For instance in Spain the

financial subsidence is elevated and individuals are moving to different nations. This issue

could too prompt robbery, misrepresentation, movement and other social indecencies which

realize commotion to our society.

POLITICAL ISSUES.

The word alone represents itself with no issue. Political issues will be issues that exude from

political shakiness. For instance, in Nigeria where we have government officials hoping to

stay in influence till death, not giving space for gifted young people and people with

possibilities yet stealing cash, making strategy that suit themselves and considering their

pocket and pockets just. The ramifications of political issues can support no more as it takes

no noteworthy significance to them, for this suggestion conveys unevenness to the general

public as it is a social prevalent.

CULTURAL ISSUES.

Diverse ethnic gathering and way of life with various conviction of a perfect thing ought to be

or should be. Social issues have a tendency to impede advancement, advance and changes

from numerous points of view demonstrated. In Nigeria for instance, there are more than

250ethnicgroups with various standards and principles and oppose unequivocally to some

social development. Cultural issues as a social problem be the reason for Nigeria’s setbacks?

(Food for thought).Recently in a city in the eastern part of Nigeria, a preacher was beaten

mercilessly for killing a snake in his residence. The indigene said the snake was ancestors and

that the preacher has commited felony and was to pay a fine of 15000 naira as redemption for

his act. Also in other part of the country, children are deprived their fundamental rights un to

the fact that “our culture says”. Now I leave you all with this food for thought; can culture be

see as an institute of social change or not?

RELIGION.

Religion is the conviction arrangement of a specific culture. It is the conviction and

rehearse or method of love of an extraordinary being. Like I said before, religion is the

grandmaster of every single social issue since its practices in restricted or alternate

impacts ones belief system about ones environment. Religion forces rationally on people

through its philosophy. For instance, Buddhism sees was hallowed and ought not be eaten

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but rather reverend. Likewise, Judaism denies the eaten of any creature slaughtered by

battling. These limitations put on animals are silly, over the top and should be

abolished.Frankly speaking, I am a Christian however I don't have confidence in religion.

For Christ came to cancel religion and as indicated by the sacred book of scriptures, Christ

can to spare and not to censure or forbid.Why does religion force philosophies like the

issues of relationship, executing of creatures, method of love, customs, standards and

tenets and different practices-which realizes anomalies in our general public for the sake

of God? At the point when God is love. According to my examination, religion these days

discusses overwhelming and having as well as denouncing when God discusses love,

thankfulness and forgiveness. In my own particular assessment, religion is the best social

issue predominant in our general public on the grounds that as opposed to lecturing peace

it lectures withdrawing one’s self from others, rather than realizing social change, it brings

principles that are unchangeable. Rather than social solidarity it brings social disparity.

Finally, religion as appeared by exploration is the inverse of God and accordingly the best

social issue pervasive and from my own sightings, one ought to welcome the maker of

different biodiversity as it was made for our usage, utilization, and supportability to

realize social solidarity and annul abnormalities.

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1.2 ECONOMICAL PROBLEMS

Sparing variables are additionally in charge of a percentage of the real social issues being

confronted by the contemporary society. It is more obvious in social orders of creating nations

like India. Unequal conveyance of riches has prompted uniqueness in the dispersion of

advantages happening because of advancement. Therefore there is the issue of destitution.

Destitution thusly irritates different issues like high dreariness and mortality, wrongdoing,

ghetto, absence of education, and so forth.

Further, the procedure of urbanization and industrialization in India has been moderate. This

has brought about local difference in monetary improvement. There are pockets of

advancement where abnormal state of urban and mechanical development can be seen.

Nonetheless, alternate districts are still immature. It has pulled in huge number of individuals

to relocate from the immature area to the created district. This thus has influenced the

populace structure of both the areas. Notwithstanding it, the locales getting the vagrants are

confronting the issues of ghetto, blockage unemployment, contamination, and so on.

Prior, trying to grow quickly, environment was terribly disregarded. The biological outcome

of such an endeavor has now developed as a noteworthy social issue. Quick industrialization

has prompted increment in environment contamination that incorporates air contamination,

water contamination, commotion contamination, and corruption and desertification of the

area. This thus has prompted expanded dismalness and mortality, development of new sorts of

illnesses, a worldwide temperature alteration, ozone

consumption, surges and so forth that has undermined the presence of humankind itself.

Further, to encourage the expanding populace of the world more land is being brought under

development.

Society is confronting numerous prudent issues which are hindrance in the development of

the individual and society. These issues spread from neediness to unemployment

There are a few other prudent issues has being confronted by our general public some of them

are expansion, neediness, lack of education, fast urbanization, and so on. Society should better

evaluate how to enhance practical development together with low carbon advancement

activity including approaches to enhance sustenance and other security. Some of these issues

are examined as here under:

INFLATION

Expansion alludes to a steady upward development in the general cost level. It results in a

decay of the obtaining power. By business analysts swelling does not happen until cost

increment midpoints under 5% every year for a supported period. Swelling or tenacious

upward development of costs results in a decrease in the buying influence of cash. A little

measurement of expansion at the rate of under 5 for each penny is useful for the economy

since it reinforces the formative push of the economy. In any case, expansion at a higher rate

had terrible monetary and social outcomes for the economy. Expansion could be brought on

either due to overabundance of interest over supply or in view of increment in the expense of

creation or both. Expansion can be checked with the utilization of money related measures,

financial measures and speculation control. In India, general reasons for swelling have been

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populace blast, poor execution of rural and modern parts, high government use, and

inclination of the general population to imitate individuals in prosperous nations etc. Different

measures said above have been utilized to control swelling in India.

ILLITERACY

Absence of education is another real issue before the general public. It‟s a tragic situation that

nation which had larger amount of education (than British) during an era when British came

two centuries back is presently confronting the test of an enormous number of individuals

who are uneducated and can't read or compose. The absence of these aptitudes renders them

denied of the open doors for upward social versatility. Such individuals need to rely on upon

others for different things and are misused in different authoritative archives and are subjected

to abuses and legitimate bothers. Keeping these negative outcomes in perspective the

administration is attempting to universalize essential training. The absence of perusing and

composing aptitudes makes a man unequipped for profiting the different chances to help

themselves. Every single instructed individual, thusly, is relied upon to add to the proficiency

mission and making it The unavailability of stimulating environment and absence of effective

role models decreases the motivation level. A large section of poor children do not go to

school. Even if they go they become drop outs and fail to complete education.

In this context it may be pointed out that poverty is also related to the social structure. A

number of low caste, scheduled tribe and backward communities have been put to

discrimination for many centuries. They are socially disadvantaged and are deprived from the

experiences necessary for development on account of their membership of specific groups. In

this sense they are doubly deprived.

Studies have shown that the children from the background of poverty and social disadvantage

lag behind their counterparts from the enriched background. Their cognitive development and

performance is found to be at a lower level. Studies of perception, memory and intelligence

have demonstrated it several times. The studies have also shown that the performance

between the advantaged and disadvantaged children increases with advancing age. It has also

been found that the poverty condition is de-motivating and makes a person more vulnerable.

Low level of achievement motivation and greater need for dependence in these people make

them less effective in coping with the problems of everyday life. As a result the poor become

marginalized and cannot contribute to the mainstream of the society.

The question why some people are poor has been answered in many ways. The search for

causes of poverty has lead to many answers. It has been located in the individual, in the social

structure, or the culture of the people. For instance many people blame the victim and

consider the poor as responsible for the characteristics or dispositions of the people. A

detailed analysis of the problem of poverty shows that poverty is caused by multiple factors.

The social and economic structure in India promotes inequality, and social disadvantages. The

life in the poverty condition reinforces certain behaviour pattern, values and coping styles

which, reduce the chances of upward social mobility.

1.3 HEALTH PROBLEMS

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There are several major health problems prevent in society. Some of the health problems are

eradicated and some problems are still prevent in the society. Some national health programs

like Malaria control programs, AIDS control programs has been launch in India. Such health

problems can be classified into different categories like -

Communicable disease problems

Nutritional problems

Environmental sanitation problems

Medical care problems

Communicable disease continue to be major problem in India. Diseases considered to be of

great importance are -

Malaria

Tuberculosis

Dioarrhea

Acute respiratory disease

AIDS

India consist of small group of well fed and a very large group of undernourished. The

specific problems in the country are

Protein energy malnutrition

Nutritional anemia

Low birth weight

The most difficult problem to tackle in this country is environmental sanitation problem,

which is multi factorial and multifaceted.

URBANIZATION

Urbanization is another issue that merits genuine consideration. There is progressively

awesome relocation from towns to urban areas. This circumstance in producing weights on

urban communities which were implied for a positive size of populace. The restricted metro

offices, non military personnel associations and structures are confronting troubles in taking

care of the requests of the general population. The uber urban areas like Mumbai, Kolkata

Chennai and Delhi have crossed the points of confinement for which they are equipped for

this circumstance makes various issues, for example, unapproved and illicit exercises, rise of

ghettos, issue of waste transfer production of foles, wrongdoing and wellbeing related issues.

The social association, economy and ecological arranging in numerous urban communities are

getting to be unmanageable. Likewise, urbanization is connected with specific sorts of

demeanor such as consumerism and independence. Consumerism accentuates on abuse of

assets for individual utilization with no sympathy toward society and environment. This state

of mind is in charge of the biological irregularity that is generally experienced in today‟s

world. Thus the individualistic mentality supports the perspective that the individual is a

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definitive reality and everything forms need to be clarified at individual level. The individual

is free and dependable to his or her self just.

POVERTY

A vast segment of the Indian culture is experiencing destitution. Destitution is a wonder

which is objective and additionally subjective. Impartially destitution suggests a

dehumanizing condition in which individuals can't care for the essential needs. Subjectively

neediness remains for saw hardship. Thusly it is relative and anyone can feel poor by

contrasting himself as herself and a rich person. Poor individuals do not have the important

assets and ability to fulfill fundamental needs like sustenance, asylum, wellbeing and

instruction. They live under troublesome conditions which are not favourable for

advancement of their human potential. As you have adapted before for sound human

advancement a tyke needs ecological backing for survival and improvement. Neediness

meddles with improvement from various perspectives. For example absence of or deficient

sustenance captures mental advancement amid ahead of schedule adolescence.

1. ABOUT NGO

There are various NGO’S working for this cause

NGOS working for this cause List of NGOs Here we list a few of the prominent NGOs

focusing on the issues related to the girl child in India:

CRY (Child Rights and You) - Mumbai The organization supports grassroots groups

involved in putting a stop to child labor and child poverty, such as supporting Mahita in

Hyderabad and Help & Supporting in imparting education to under-privileged girl

children.

NANHI KALI - Mumbai Run by the K C Mahindra Trust, an all-India Organization,

Nanhi Kali, allows you to sponsor a girl child’s education through their network.

DREAM A DREAM – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore A professionally run, registered not-

for profit organization working with children coming from vulnerable backgrounds

such as from streets, slum communities, runaway children, orphans and HIV+ children.

POPULATION FIRST – Mumbai The organization runs a campaign called ‘Laddli’,

which tackles the issue of the falling sex ratio.

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Child in NeedInstitute – Kolkata An organization actively supporting the cause of child

rights and Help & Supporting the children in need. INDIANNGOS.COM Organizing

plans, which lead to provision of sponsorships of the girl child.

INDIA ALLIANCE FOR CHILD RIGHTS (IACR) The India Alliance for Child

Rights represents a countrywide alliance of networks, NGOs, think tanks, activists,

academia, and concerned individuals working for the realization of the rights of

children.

Key Issues

Medical Ethics

Declining Child Sex Ratio

The term ‘epidemic’ has a new meaning in India. In a country where a selective ‘human

breeding’ is rampant, figures throw up some of the most startling trends in history. India

represents one of the most adverse Child Sex Ratio (CSR) figures amongst the Southeast

Asian countries, reflecting a highly undesirable reversal of the norms of nature.

Female Foeticide

“Invest only Rs. 600 now and save your precious Rs. 50,000 later…”

(Catchline issued by one of the flourishing clinics dealing with sex determination )

The 2001 Census conducted by Government of India, showed a sharp decline in the child sex

ratio in 80% districts of India.

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India, in all its glory of being an IT superpower and one of the fastest developing countries,

tragically represents the lowest child sex ratio in the world. Systematic gender discrimination

in India is reported to have claimed up to a whopping 50 million female lives. The Census

Report of 2001 reveals a highly skewed child sex ratio (0-6 year-olds), that fell from 945

females per 1,000 males in 1991 to an all-time low of 927 in 2001. The ratio even dropped

further to 800:1,000 in some specific parts of the country.

Additional data from the India’s birth and death registration service indicates that the figures

have further fallen to fewer than 900 females per 1,000 men over the last few years.

The Background

Atrocities against women in various forms have been an integral part of the civilization since

ages. However, India has unabashedly been home to some of the most barbaric acts against

this ‘gentler’ breed of humanity, starting from dowry deaths and sati, going up to female

infanticide and female foeticide. Technology facilitates a series of pre-natal diagnostic tools to

identify and cure any potential birth defects and associated conditions. In a gross misuse of

the scientific tools, female fetuses are selectively aborted after such pre-natal sex

determination, in spite of a massive influx of legal regulations banning the same. Techniques

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such as Amniocentesis were introduced in 1975 to identify any genetic abnormalities. Sadly,

these soon became a tool for sex determination and proved to be a call of death for the tiny

unborn female fetuses. What is most alarming is that the CSR is far more skewed in the

‘Bermuda Triangle’, which includes the land-rich and affluent states of Punjab, Haryana and

Uttar Pradesh. The national capital, New Delhi, is also known to be on top of the list. As per

the latest government data available pertaining to births, the CSR in Punjab stood at a mere

775 females per 1000 males. Shockingly, a recent survey of 10 villages around Chandigarh

(that fall within 29 km radius of the city), revealed that the number of boys outnumbered girls

in every village. Reports indicate that more than 12,000 sex determination tests were carried

out across the scores of private clinics in 1997 in Delhi alone. In fact, the steep rise in sex

crimes in Delhi has also been attributed to the unequal sex ratio. In the same year, 105 female

infants had been reportedly killed every month in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. The

apathetic attitude of the administration coupled with inefficient legislative implementation

further adds to the woes of the girl child in India, facing elimination and discrimination in

their very right to live.

Legal Jurisdiction

Judiciary in India has declared the year 2007 as the ‘Awareness year of female foeticide’.

“The system will deal strictly with those responsible for this crime”, Chief Justice of India Y

K Sabharwal, declared.

(A) EVOLUTION OF THE LAW

India has witnessed a long-drawn process, defining the evolution of an anti-female

foeticide law. Here we highlight the most important milestones:

Key Stages

1976: The Centre banned sex-determination tests in government facilities.

1988: The Maharashtra Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, followed by similar acts

by the governments of Punjab, Gujarat and Haryana

1994: The Punjab Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Control & Regulation) Act

1994: The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Bill

(introduced in Parliament in 1991, passed in 1994)

1996, January 1: Enforcement of central Act in Punjab

December 1997: The Directorate of Health Services and Family Welfare, Punjab is

appointed the authority to implement the Act .

Meanwhile, the IPC recognizes Female Infanticide as a punishable offence under the

Indian law.

(B) ACTS AND REGULATIONS

The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act,

1994.

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The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994

was enacted and brought into operation from January 1, 1996. Primarily, the Act

prohibits determination and disclosure of the sex of foetus.

Key Definition:

An Act to provide for the regulation of the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for the

purpose of detecting genetic or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or

certain congenital malformations or sex linked disorders and for the prevention of the

misuse of such techniques for the purpose of pre-natal sex determination leading to

female foeticide; and, for matters connected there with or incidental thereto

[20th September, 1994: Act No. 57 of 1994]

The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex

Selection) Act, 1994

The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act was amended in 2003 to empower the above

further in light of the new fertility technologies, which facilitate the selection of the sex

of the foetus before conception. The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic

Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act and Rules 1994 (as amended up to 2002)

(the PCPNDT Act) mandates that sex selection by any person, by any means, before or

after conception, is prohibited.

Key Highlights:

The law chiefly provides for the following:

Prohibition on sale of ultrasound machines to persons not registered under this Act.

Prohibition of advertisement of any technique for sex selection as well as sex

determination.

Prevention of misuse of such techniques for sex selection before of after conception.

Regulation of prenatal diagnostic techniques (e.g. amniocentesis and ultrasonography)

for detection of genetic abnormalities, by restricting their use to registered institutions.

The Act allows the use of these techniques only at a registered place for a specified

purpose and by a qualified person, registered for this purpose.

Prohibition of sex selection, before and after conception.

Code of Medical Ethics

Constituted by the Indian Parliament in the Medical Council Act, 1956, the relevant

section of the Code of Medical Ethics states:

On no account, sex determination test shall be undertaken with the intent to terminate the

life of a female foetus developing in her mother’s womb, unless there are other absolute

indications for termination of pregnancy as specified in the Medical Termination of

Pregnancy , Act, 1971. Any act of termination of pregnancy of normal female foetus,

amounting to female foeticide, shall be regarded as professional misconduct on the part

of the physician leading to penal erasure besides rendering him liable to criminal

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proceedings as per the provisions of this Act (Clause 7.6). It is here important to note that

the penalty for unindicated sex determination and female foeticide is striking off the

name from the register apart from criminal action.

Socio-economic issues

Education – The Right to Learn

“Educate a man, you educate one person, educate a woman, you educate a complete

family.”

Reports estimate that more than 50 percent of girls in India fail to enroll in school and

those who do are likely to drop out by the age of 12.

As in a series of other aspects, the girl child is also discriminated against extensively in

the right to education, even basic at times.

Lack of education denies the girl child, the knowledge and skills needed to advance their

status. Education enables the child to realize her full potential, to think, question and

judge independently; to be a wise decision-maker, develop civic sense and learn to

respect, love his fellow human beings and to be a good citizen.

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Figures also report that there is discrimination even in the field of higher education. At

least a 40% of girls are not allowed to pursue higher studies, due to the conservative

familial ideologies.

Initiatives

In 1994, the Government of India passed a universal female education bill that offers

parents incentives for access and punishment for keeping a girl out of school. In another

important initiative, the government also announced free and reduced cost education for

girls. The program has been designed with the aim to offer free education at high school

level to all girls of single child

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families.

The offer also includes provisions for fellowships of US$ 45 per month for those

undertaking post-graduate studies.

Child marriages

“Child marriage is a gross violation of all categories of child rights.” UNICEF

A report by the UNICEF revealed that 82 percent of girls in Rajasthan are married

before they are 18, 15 percent of girls in rural areas across the country are married before

13 and a major 52 percent of girls have their first pregnancy between 15 and 19.

By the Indian law, it is illegal to allow or facilitate marriage of a boy under 21 and a girl

under 18. Amongst all the states in India, it is Rajasthan that tops the list with the average

age of a girl at marriage being 16.6 years, closely followed by Bihar (17.2 years) and

Madhya Pradesh (17 years).

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Defying the law right in the eye, hundreds of children tied the knot in Rajgarh, 65

miles northwest of Bhopal in May 2005. According to sources, hundreds of children,

some even as young as seven years old were married over a period of one week. As if to

mock at the law, the ceremonies were held at the same time as the ‘Akkha Teej’, a

summer festival believed to auspicious for weddings. Meanwhile all the officials could

do was to record the names of the children being married. Despite the existence of

legislation banning child marriage since 1929, the practice continues to be a social reality

in the present India.

Child Labor

Child labourers-- The Cheap Commodity of India

Shiva, an eight-year old orphan was reported dead on June 29, 1993, after he was caught

escaping and then beaten and scorched to death by his employer.

In another incident, 446 children were rescued from over 200 zari shops in the glamorous city

of Mumbai, while 25 children were rescued from an ill-lit small room converted into a zari

factory in the national capital, New Delhi.

The 1991 Census carried out by Government of India states that there are 11.28 million

working children under the age of fourteen years in India. Advocacy groups suggest the real

figure could be as high as 60 million.

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With figures from varied sources giving verdict, India is known to have the largest number of

working children in the world. 74 percent of child domestic workers in India are between the

ages of 12 and 16, most of them working at measly wages.

Toiling in the heat of stone quarries, working in the fields for long hours, picking rags in city

streets or stashed away as domestic servants, these children are sentenced to a life of misery,

suffering and horrors. In most of the Indian industries, girls are recognized as unrecognized

laborers because they are seen as Help & Supporters and not workers. Hence, this section

remains almost totally unprotected by law.

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Sex Ratio

In India Sex Ratio is a term used to define number of females per 1000 males. It's a great

source to find the equality of males and females in a society at a given period of time. InIndia

Sex Ratio was okay till the time of Independence, thereafter it has declined regularly.

According to Census of India 20011, Indian sex ratio has shown some improvement in the last

10 years. It has gone up from 933 in 2001 to 940 in 2011 census of India. There has been

some improvement in the Sex Ratio of India but it has gone down badly in some states like

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Haryana. The state of Kerala with 1084 females for every 1000 males has the best sex ratio in

India. It has shown a tremendous improvement in the last 10 years. Haryana has the lowest

sex ratio of 877 females per 1000 males. So Sex Ratio of India varies from region to region.

Kerala and Puducherry are only two places in India where total female population is more

than the male population. Other states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka are

also showing an increase in their sex ratio.

The states of South India have the best Sex Ratio of females per 1000 males. Some important

facts about Sex Ratio of India are presented here:

. Kerala with 1084 females per 1000 males has the highest sex ratio according to 2011

Census of India.

. The state of Haryana has the lowest female literacy rate in India. Kerala with 1084

females per 1000 males has the highest sex ratio according to 2011 Census of India.

. In Union Territories of India, Daman and Diu has the lowest female sex ratio while

Pondicherry has the highest female sex ratio in India.

There is some extent of gender bias in India which is responsible for this decline in female

ratio however it has started to show some improvement in the last 20 years

Lack of education and poverty in rural areas leads to gender bias.

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SAVE GIRL CHILD ORGANISATION

The Organization for Eradication of illiteracy and Poverty seeks to awaken the social

consciousness of society towards its own ills. We are challenging the formation of conscience

in order to bring about a social change where one lives in a classless and unbiased society. Dr.

Bernard Malik is the Director of this organization. He has strong belief in the basic goodness

of human beings. Human beings have a strong instinct to choose good over evil. Therefore

Dr. Malik believes education is the key to resolve the evils of the society. The lack of

education is the cause of many problems around. Education provides freedom from illiteracy

and poverty. Literacy serves as an instrument of poverty alleviation. Therefore Dr. Bernard

Malik founded the Organization for Eradication of Illiteracy and Poverty. By this he seeks to

affect a worldwide campaign of educational empowerment.

To bring about social awareness and affect a positive change towards Girl Child.

To provide education to the girl child and thus make her economically self-reliant.

To highlight issues of the girl child and attempt to seek solutions of the same.

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To promote equality in terms of gender, education, and other opportunities.

To work towards the all-round progress of the girl child at all levels.

HOW THEY ARE CREATING AWARENESS IN THE SOCIETY

National Plan of Action to Save Girl Child

(1991-2000)

INTRODUCTION

The National Plan of Action for the Girl Child for 1991-2000, is a specially

formulated action plan by the Government of India to protect and promote the Girl

Child.

THE AIM

This plan seeks to prevent female feticide and infanticide, eliminate gender

discrimination, provide safe drinking water and fodder near homes, rehabilitate and

protect girls from exploitation, assault and abuse.

KEY MEASURES

The key measures planned under the National Plan include:

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Strengthening of the existing primary health care infrastructure

Consolidation and maintenance of levels of immunization coverage

Stepping up immunization where coverage is low

Polio eradication through immunization

Ensuring essential supplies and drugs

Training of doctors and Para-medical health workers .

Educating women and girls on safe motherhood Providing primary education facilities

in un served areas

Providing child care services Community mobilization and involvement

OTHER STEPS

The Background

Historically, India has been one of the first countries to identify the Girl Child as the focus of

attention for improving the overall social and economic status of women.

Steps

The Balika Samriddhi Yojana in 1997 is one of the most important initiatives of the

Government to raise overall status of the girl child. The Yojana aims to change family and

community attitudes towards both, the girl child and the mother.

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A series of incentives were included in the Yojana, including the likes of a gift of Rs. 500/- to

the mother on delivery of a baby girl and the provision of an annual scholarship for the girl,

with the overall aim of improving enrolment and retention of girls in school.

In another major initiative, in 2005, the Government of India also announced free and

reduced cost education for girls. Those with two girls and no other children were promised

discounts of up to 50%. The program also offered fellowships of US$ 45 per month for those

undertaking post-graduate studies.

Various State Governments have formulated State Plans of Action for Girl Child, appropriate

to the condition prevailing in each state, prominently including Governments of Karnataka,

Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Goa.

Adding on, the Government had also set up policies like the National Nutrition Policy (1993),

which recognizes the stage of adolescence as a special period for a multi-sectoral nutrition

intervention for the females.

To ensure effective implementation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and

Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994, a Central Supervisory Board was also set-up under the

chairpersonship of the Minister-in-charge of Health and Family Welfare.

Furthermore, the National Policy on Education (1986) was formulated to address the question

of setting right the traditional gender imbalances in education, making a strong commitment

in favor of education for women’s equality.

A recent news story also reported a unique campaign being carried out by over 200 people

across five northern and western states of India, under the leadership of the well-known

religious leader and social activist, Swami Agnivesh.

Chief Minister of Haryana (India), Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hudda, also lauded the consistent

efforts of Swami Agnivesh in the Campaign Against Female Foeticide and pledged to extend

all possible infrastructural support and assistance.

Other beneficial schemes include the Adolescent Girls Scheme, the Child Survival and Safe

Motherhood Programme, the Universal Immunization Programme, special health check up

schemes for primary school students, introduction of health cards in selected areas, evaluation

of health programmes, the Mid-day Meal Scheme for primary school children and nutrition

education.

Reports also indicate that the government aims to eliminate all forms of child labor by 2020.

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(Right of Abortion v. Child in Mother's Womb)

Abortion in India is legal only up to twenty weeks of pregnancy under specific conditions and

situations which are broadly defined as:

A. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman

or of grave injury of physical or mental health, or there is a substantial risk that if the child

were born, it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously

handicapped.

B. An adult woman requires no other person's consent except her own.

C. Abortion in India is controversially the cause of Gendercide. In many parts of India,

daughters are not preferred and hence sex-selective abortion is commonly practiced, resulting

in an unnatural male to female population sex ratio due to millions of developing girls

selectively being targeted for termination before birth.

Before 1971

The Indian Penal Code, which was enacted in 1860 and was written in accordance with

British law at the time of its creation, declared induced abortion as illegal. Induced abortion

was defined as purposely "causing miscarriage”,. Abortion practitioners would either be

incarcerated for up to three years, fined, or both; women undergoing abortions could be

imprisoned for up to seven years and also be charged an additional fine. The only exception

was when abortion was induced in order to save the life of the woman. Despite the fact that

this passage in the penal code was changed in Great Britain in 1967, India did not change it

until 1971. Countless women died attempting illegal abortions as a result of the penal code,

and it was a combination of this and the growing population that made the country

reconsiders its initial stance. In 1964, the Central Family Planning Board of the Government

of India met and formed a committee designed to examine the subject of abortion from

medical, legal, social, and moral standpoints. The Abortion Study Committee, lead by the

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then Health Minister of the state of Maharashtra Mr. Shantilal Shah, spent the next two years

studying the issue, and submitted a report with its suggestions in December 1966. This report

considered the penal code to be too restrictive and recommended that the law's qualifications

should be relaxed; many of these suggestions were included in the subsequent Medical

Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.

1971 and beyond The Indian abortion laws falls under the Medical Termination of

Pregnancy (MTP) Act, which was enacted by the Indian Parliament in the year 1971 with the

intention of reducing the incidence of illegal abortion and consequent maternal mortality and

morbidity.The MTP Act came into effect from 1 April 1972 and was amended in the years

1975 and 2002. Pregnancies not exceeding 12 weeks may be terminated based on a single

opinion formed in good faith. In case of pregnancies exceeding 12 weeks but less than 20

weeks, termination needs opinion of two doctors. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy

(MTP) Act of India clearly states the conditions under which a pregnancy can be ended or

aborted, the persons who are qualified to conduct the abortion and the place of

implementation.Some of these qualifications are as follows:

Women whose physical and/or mental health were endangered by the pregnancy

Women facing the birth of a potentially handicapped or malformed child

Pregnancies in unmarried girls under the age of eighteen with the consent of a

guardian

Pregnancies in "lunatics" with the consent of a guardian

Pregnancies that are a result of failure in sterilization

Statistics Unsafe abortions are killing a woman every two hours in India (which is

approximately 4000 deaths a year), according to estimates and calculations correlating data on

maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and Sample Registration System (SRS) data by Ipas, India,

an international NGO working on increasing access to safe abortion services. A Lancet paper

in 2007 said there were 6.4 million abortions, of which 3.6 million or 56 per cent were unsafe.

Ipas has calculated this based on the latest population and crude birth rates (CBR) which peg

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the number of induced abortion at 5,007,932.According to Census 2011, abortion taking place

in institution varies from 32.0% in Chhattisgarh to 73.9% in Assam.

Sex-selective abortion

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Pre-natal diagnostic techniques like Medical Ultra sonography are capable of determining the

sex of the foetus. In many parts of India, daughters are not preferred and hence sex-selective

abortion is commonly practiced, a form of Gendercide, resulting in an unnatural male to

female population sex ratio due to millions of developing girls being terminated before birth.

According to The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse)

Amendment Act, 2002 the following are cognizable, non-bail able and non-compoundable

offences Conducting or associating or helping to conduct Pre-Natal Diagnostic tests. Sex

selection on a woman or a man or both on any tissue, embryo, concepts’ fluid or gametes

derived from either or both of them Advertisement or communication in any form in print, by

electronic media or internet by units, medical professionals or companies on the availability

of sex determination and sex selection in the form of services, medicines, or any kind of

techniques. Three years imprisonment and fine of Rs. 10,000 and five years imprisonment and

fine of Rs. 50,000 for subsequent offence for service providers is stipulated by the law ; those

who seek aid shall be punishable with a term that may extend to three years and a fine that

may extend to Rs 50,000 for the first offence and for any subsequent offence with

imprisonment which may extend to five years and with fine which may increase to Rs.

100,000.

Implementation

Unsafe abortions continue to outnumber safe and legal abortions. The Central government

constituted an expert committee in the year 2010 to make recommendations.

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Empowerment of Women in India (2001)

The National Policy for the Empowerment of Women in India (2001) is hailed as one of the

biggest achievements in the history of Indian women’s human rights. The law states as, “All

forms of discrimination against the girl child and violation of her rights shall be eliminated by

undertaking strong measures, both preventive and punitive within and outside the family.

These would relate specifically to strict enforcement of laws against prenatal sex selection and

the practices of female foeticide, female infanticide, child marriage, child abuse and child

prostitution.”

Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986

The Child Labour Act prohibits employment of children (under 14 yrs) in 13 occupations and

57 processes contained in Part A & B of the schedule to the Act. It also lays down penalties

for employment of children in violation of the provisions of this Act and regulates the

employment of children with respect to working hours, number of holidays, health and safety

in work place. The other provisions relate to prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced

labour (Article 23). Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State stipulate that

children be secured against exploitation

The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection)

Act.

The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act

and Rules 1994 (as amended up to 2002) (the PCPNDT Act) mandates that sex selection by

any person, by any means, before or after conception, is prohibited

Child Marriage Bill 2006.

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According to the Child Bill (2006), people marrying children and people involved in these

practices, people abetting or attending a child marriage would face up to two years in prison

and a fine of 100,000 rupees.

Child Sexual Abuse

Under the Indian law, those accused of child sexual abuse are currently charged under Section

376 as a punishment for rape and Section 377, that defines unnatural sexual offences, of the

Indian Penal Code.

Code of Medical Ethics

Constituted by the Indian Parliament in the Medical Council Act, 1956, the Code of Medical

Ethics lays down that: “On no account sex determination test shall be undertaken with the

intent to terminate the life of a female foetus developing in her mother’s womb, unless there

are other absolute indications for termination of pregnancy as specified in the Medical

Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. Any act of termination of pregnancy of normal female

foetus, amounting to female feticide, shall be regarded as professional misconduct on the part

of the physician leading to penal erasure besides rendering him liable to criminal proceedings

as per the provisions of this Act (Clause 7.6). It is here important to note that the penalty for

unindicted sex determination and female feticide is striking off the name from the register

apart from criminal action.”

Others

Apart from the above, there are legal provisions for working children in other laws

such as:

The Factories Act, 1948 The Mines Act, 1952

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The Motor Transport Worker’s Act, 1961

The Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act,

1966 The Plantations Labour Act,

HOW DO THEY PLAN THEIR ACTIVITIES?

There is a special department in” SAVE A GIRL CHILD” for proper planning

and successful implementation of their promotional activities. In this

organisation there is a PRO marketing department for successful strategic

planning of promotional activities. This marketing department set mission and

vision of such activities of different departments. Further it is to inform that

such PRO marketing department plan their activities and gathered necessary

information by visiting and concern doctors at different places. Thus this NGO

plan with strategic vision to promote their activities.

SOURCES OF FUNDS

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VARIOUS NGO’S WORKING FOR THIS CAUSE

List of NGOs Here we list a few of the prominent NGOs focusing on the issues related to the

girl child in India:

CRY (Child Rights and You) - Mumbai The organization supports grassroots groups

involved in putting a stop to child labour and child poverty, such as supporting Mahita

in Hyderabad and Help & Supporting in imparting education to under-privileged girl

children.

NANHI KALI - Mumbai Run by the K C Mahindra Trust, an all-India Organization,

Nanhi Kali, allows you to sponsor a girl child’s education through their network.

DREAM A DREAM – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore A professionally run, registered

not-for profit organization working with children coming from vulnerable

backgrounds such as from streets, slum communities, runaway children, orphans and

HIV+ children.

POPULATION FIRST – Mumbai The organization runs a campaign called ‘Laddli’,

which tackles the issue of the falling sex ratio. Child in Need Institute – Kolkata An

organization actively supporting the cause of child rights and Help & Supporting the

children in need.

INDIANNGOS.COM Organizing plans, which lead to provision of sponsorships of

the girl child.

INDIA ALLIANCE FOR CHILD RIGHTS (IACR) The India Alliance for Child

Rights represents a countrywide alliance of networks, NGOs, think tanks, activists,

academia, and concerned individuals working for the realization of the rights of

children.

Key Causes

Poverty

The macabre scenario of discarded female fetuses in India is the handiwork of the brain of a

human being. It is little surprising then, unless the citizens of India themselves wake up to the

need, the evil of female foeticide and other such malpractices targeting the Indian girl child

shall not be done away with. The common man on the road, the head of the family in a middle

or an upper-middle class family, the intellectual human rights activist; conscientious citizens

from all walks of life need to contribute to curb the menace. Such a mindset revolution needs

mobilization of action right from personal to governmental levels. As an individual, the most

important and effective thing you can do is to influence the attitudes of those around you.

Make your friends, relatives and immediate family aware of the girls’ capabilities. Try to

make the young girls around you aware of their self-worth, especially the under-privileged

ones. Women need to make an effort to reach out to each other through groups, share

experiences and give support. Parents should also have an open mindset towards enrolling

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their children in co- education schools to ensure healthy exposure. Sex education should be

imparted at an appropriate age by the parents or guardians themselves. One of the earliest

forms of support in the educated circles of our society, .i.e. sponsoring the education of a girl

child, is still one of the most effective forms of contribution.

Social Stigma

Prabhuji mein tori binti karoon

Paiyan Paroon bar bar

Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Na Dije

Narak Dije Chahe Dar...

(Oh, God, I beg of you, I touch your feet time and again, Next birth don't give me a daughter,

Give me Hell instead...) Folk Song, Uttar Pradesh

The current trends have even refuted the common belief that the practice of eliminating the

female child will get discouraged with the economic independence of women on the rise. A

survey by Action India of women in Delhi revealed that even the highly educated women

have resorted to as many as a whopping eight abortions to ensure that they only give birth to a

son. One of the main reasons as pointed out by the experts is the Indian government’s

attempts to control its burgeoning population of over 1 billion through controlling women’s

fertility. This could literally serve as the doomsday verdict as the government’s two-child

family concept encourages elimination of female fetuses in order to obtain a ‘complete

family’ with at least one son. The obsessive inborn hunger of the Indian patriarchal set-up to

have a male child in its progeny has virtually brought the ethical systems of India into

shambles. The prejudice finally takes its toll and shows itself in a drastically lopsided sex

ratio in the country.

An Insight

The society is meant to be the most vital support system of a human being. It is shame then,

that in a developing country, such norms of the society itself have victimized and endangered

the very existence of the female child in India. We give you an insight into the most crucial

reasons: We give you an insight into the most crucial reasons: Menace of dowry Fear of loss

of face in local community esire to keep the wealth within the family, through sons Fear of

dependence of the girl on the family, for life Attempt to control family size Wish to appease

Gods in times of crisis

Mind Set Revolution

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The macabre scenario of discarded female fetuses in India is the handiwork of the brain of a

human being. It is little surprising then, unless the citizens of India themselves wake up to the

need, the evil of female foeticide and other such malpractices targeting the Indian girl child

shall not be done away with.

The common man on the road, the head of the family in a middle or an upper-middle class

family, the intellectual human rights activist; conscientious citizens from all walks of life need

to contribute to curb the menace. Such a mindset revolution needs mobilization of action right

from personal to governmental levels. As an individual, the most important and effective

thing you can do is to influence the attitudes of those around you.

Make your friends, relatives and immediate family aware of the girls’ capabilities. Try to

make the young girls around you aware of their self-worth, especially the under-privileged

ones. Women need to make an effort to reach out to each other through groups, share

experiences and give support. Parents should also have an open mindset towards enrolling

their children in co- education schools to ensure healthy exposure.

Sex education should be imparted at an appropriate age by the parents or guardians

themselves. One of the earliest forms of support in the educated circles of our society, .i.e.

sponsoring the education of a girl child, is still one of the most effective forms of contribution

Remedial Meassures:

o Administrative Measures

India, as a country, needs a heroic administrative impetus to break the shackles and

come out of the morbid shadows of such practices. No amount of individual efforts or

non-governmental movements can have an impact unless the administration takes up

the cudgels.

o Political will

Through active generation of political will and result-oriented action plans, the

government can effectively Help & Support the situation.

Here we list some of the main solutions possible:

Provision of free and compulsory education in practice, not only in theory

Effective implementation of the Dowry Prohibition Act and other relevant

laws Grant of equal property rights to girls

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A department for women and a commission for women must be established at

central and state levels Women’s organizations, media houses and magazines

should offer forums for networking

Extensive support should be available to NGOs and such organizations In fact,

the government of India needs to follow in the footsteps of places like Nigeria.

Through legislation, Nigeria prohibits the withdrawal of girls from school in

order to ensure that they can continue and complete their education.

Founder & Directors to the S.G.C.O

Dr. Bernard Malik Director Email: director@savegirlchild.org

Mr. Navnish Bansal Country Director Email: help@savegirlchild.org

Belief

Bernard Malik is a devout Christian and believes in that life begins with conception: "But

thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my

mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's

belly.”

Associations Being a person committed towards the betterment of the society, he is associated

with numerous non-profit, non-governmental organizations

International Council of Evangelical Churches Federation of Indian American Christian

Organizations of North America Save Girl Child Organization Organization for Eradication

of Illiteracy and Poverty International Foundation of Minority Empowerment and Global

Friendship Philanthropic work

A true philanthropic soul, he has involved himself with many human rights issues and has

always tried his best to champion the causes of the downtrodden, the voiceless, and the

deprived, to the authorities in concern, so that an effective change may be brought about. He

has been part of Interfaith Delegation of Non Resident Indians to Gujarat for healing

communal wounds.

He has been a pioneer and lead voice on issues of Human Rights for Indians. He has been

associated with and has made representations to the Prime Minister of India, President of the

United States of America, many ministers of Indian Government, , White House Advisors,

Members of Parliament in many countries, US Senators, Congressmen, US State of

Department, United Nations and International Human Rights Organizations He has been

Churches NGO Representative to the United Nations since 1997

Honors and Awards

The global community has acknowledged his outstanding work. Numerous human rights and

church related associations in US, Canada, India and Africa, have honored him. He also has

been felicitated with numerous awards and distinctions: Sole NRI invite to 2000 Years of

Christ (Krist Janti) celebrations in Bangalore Invited to the State Dinner at White House by

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President Bush Honored by Canadian Council of South Asian Christians Honored by 7-

Eleven Franchise Owners Association of Delaware Honored by Universal Human Rights

Organization, India.

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WORKING OF VARIOUS NGO’S

CRY

Criteria for supporting an initiative:

Focus on children

Focus on nascent initiatives - grassroots or urban

Priority to projects in areas where no other projects / facilities exist

Vision, commitment, approach to work of the project partner

Project concepts should empower the community in which they work, the parents, and

ultimately make an irreversible change to the lives of children

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NANHI KALI

40

Support To The Nanhi Kalis

Academic Support – Our Nanhi Kalis receive academic support through a 1-2 hour class

conducted before or after school hours called the Academic Support Centre. Here, concepts in

Maths, Science and Language are taught, to bridge the gaps in learning and enable children to

attain grade-specific competency levels.

Material Support/Kits - The programme selects girls based on multiple criteria including

enrollment in government schools, family income, parents' educational background, social

background and the child's aptitude. A comprehensive sponsorship is created to take care of a

range of their educational requirements, providing not only academic support that enables

them to make a success of their schooling experience but also material support. This includes

uniforms, school bags, shoes, socks etc. to enable the girl child to go to school with dignity.

The material kit is ceremoniously handed over to each child at the beginning of the academic

year.

The teaching methodology includes the extensive use of innovative teaching tools and

activities such as storytelling, group games, etc. which make learning not only meaningful but

41

also fun. Our team also works with the parents and community to sensitize them on gender

equality.

Community support involves regular interactions with the Nanhi Kali's parents and the

community to ensure that they don’t drop out of school. The society does play an important

role in girl child education. Educating Nanhi Kalis doesn't involve just them but also their

families and the communities that they are a part of. Therefore, counseling and sensitizing the

community on gender issues forms an important component of our program.

DREAM A DREAM

AFTER SCHOOL

The After School Life Skills Programme uses the medium of Sports and Arts to engage and

develop critical life skills. The programme is an Innovation Lab where new approaches to

Life Skills development are introduced, demonstrated, documented and fed back into the

larger framework for Re-imagining Learning for young people in the country. Learnings from

42

the ground are documented and brought back to inform, impact and transform our work with

Teachers and Educators in the Teacher Development Programme.

5000 young people year on year

24 partner schools across Bangalore

38 life skill facilitators

1:1 gender ratio

97% retention

89% attendance

CAREER CONNECT

The program equips 14-19 year olds with information, skills and access to opportunities to

make a healthy transition to adulthood. We conduct career awareness workshops, run short-

term modules in English, communication skills, money management, career guidance and

provide access to internships, scholarships, vocational training and jobs. The program is

delivered in two learning centres, based in Bangalore.

2400 accessing career workshops

1600 accessing skill development modules

750 accessing career services

35 graduates provided job placements

160 scholarships granted

TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

The program engages adults to deepen impact on and unlock potential of young people. We

use a life skills approach to nurture empathy, expand their creativity, develop listening and

validation skills and the ability to share with authenticity while also learning facilitation skills.

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The model has been adapted from the Creative Community Model developed by Partners for

Youth Empowerment (PYE).

1000 teachers / educators trained

Impacting over 100,000 young people

Spread across 10 cities in India

24 Partner Schools / Charities

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REFERENCES

www.savegirlchild.com

www.savegirldchild.org

www.fightforthefoetus.org

www.indiachild.com

www.cry.org

www.nanhikali.org

www.dreamdream.org

www.respectwomen.co.in

www.raiseindiafoundation.org