NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY 2022

Every year January 24 is celebrated as National Girl Child Day. The purpose of this day is to save girl children from various discrimination by creating awareness about their rights and to educate society from different superstitious beliefs.

In India we can see an announcement in front of every scan centre, "Revealing the gender of the unborn child is illegal" it is because, in 1994, the parliament of India passed a law on the prohibition of sex selection. The main reason for this act was to save female fetuses from abortion, which is very common in India. 

"A friend, a sister, a wife, a mother, a daughter. When you kill one girl child, you kill the entire generation."

Worldwide girl babies have the highest survival rates at birth, but in India, more girls die than boys. 

The result, according to the UN (World Population Prospects 2019) India has 48.04 % female and 51.96 % male, which means 108.18 males per 100 females.

Discrimination against a girl child starts from their birth. Many families, do not want girl children because of the psychological problems that result from a patriarchal society.

"A girl child is a pride and the future of the nation. Empowering your girl child means empowering your future."

12 million girls each year get married before the age of 18. In India, less than two-thirds of girls complete their primary education and only one-third complete lower secondary school. Illiteracy leads to poverty.

"An educated woman has the power to educate her entire family."

Also, girl children face discrimination in different ways in education, child labour, sexual abuse, child marriage, child domestic work in houses, etc...

Gender discrimination is nothing but unequal treatment based on gender or not giving priority or privilege based on gender.

Gender equality is a fundamental right. It is a crime to treat any person unequally due to gender, caste, class, colour etc. In all places, men and women need to be treated equally.

Still, in many of our families, we see our mothers will not get respect as our fathers are getting. That is the basis of this patriarchy, which is to be changed.

Unless all genders are treated equally, we can't see the beauty of God's creation. Even in the 21st century, still, some people say that girls are not equal to boys. Those arguments need to be defeated and proper education should be given to them. 

This society should be a safe environment for girl children. Everyone should understand that a girl child is not a burden but a blessing to our society. 

"Daughters are precious gifts. Let's create an atmosphere of love, peace and equality for them."

Wishing you all a very Happy Girl Child Day 2022."

Article by

Daniel Justine