The United Nations General Assembly introduced a resolution in 2011 to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11 every year. The day serves as a reminder to acknowledge the rights of girls worldwide and the unique challenges they face. This initiative traces back to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, which first proposed a plan to enhance girls’ rights.
The 2022 Theme: Our Time is Now—Our Rights, Our Future
The theme for the International Girl Child Day 2022 is “Our time is now—our rights, our future”. The concept highlights the urgency of addressing the problems girls encounter, promoting their empowerment, and safeguarding their human rights.
Gender Equality and Sustainable Development Goals
The empowerment of women and equality among genders contribute notably to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the UN. In fact, one of the SDGs, specifically number five, directly deals with achieving gender equality. Achieving justice, inclusion, economic growth, and maintaining a sustainable environment can only be realized by ensuring women’s and girls’ rights are upheld across all the goals.
The Current State of the Girl Child in India
A report titled “Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India Report 2021” released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) highlighted the surge in crimes against children surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Eastern states like Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Haryana reported high rates of sexual offenses against children. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha accounted for about half of the total crimes committed against children across the country.
Problems Faced by Girl Children in India
India battles issues like female infanticide and foeticide, child marriage, and lack of education for girls. The 2011 Census recorded the lowest sex ratio among children between 0-6 years, with approximately three million missing girls. Every year, at least 1.5 million underage girls are married off in India. Many girls also drop out of school at a young age to manage household chores.
Initiatives Promoting Girl Child Welfare
Several initiatives have been launched to combat these issues. “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao”, introduced in 2015, targets sex-selective abortion and declining child sex ratios. The “Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana” was developed to promote parents to save for their girls’ future. The “CBSE Udaan Scheme” aims to bridge the gap between school education and engineering examinations for girl students. The government also runs a “National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)” and “Scheme for Adolescent Girls” to promote enrolment and self-reliance among girls.
Proposed Measures for Improving the Situation
India needs to strengthen its child protection system urgently. Proactive police, judicial, and legal systems can act as catalysts for change. Boosting community-based child protection mechanisms, including village-level child protection committees, is crucial. Addressing patriarchal social attitudes and prejudices through sensitisation on gender issues in school education can play a significant role in shaping a more egalitarian society.
