On the National Girl Child Day, the children at a function here on Tuesday conveyed the importance and need of the girl child to their parents and communities.
Though girls have been highly successful in different sectors, the irony is that the society still believes boys are better than girls. As per the 2011 census, the child sex ratio in Ganjam district remains 908 as the State and national average remains 941 and 914 respectively. This shows a dismal picture of just and equal society and also creates gender disparity, said the speakers at function organised by the Children’s Federation.
This discrimination creates many social problems like child marriage, child trafficking and violence against children and women. Violence against girls as per National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) in Odisha during 2015, there are 2,562 cases reported as crime against children. Similarly during 2014, there are 2,196 cases and during 2013 there are 1,123 cases reported as crime against children. Among these, during 2013 there are 509, during 2014 there are 753 and during 2015 there are 1052 cases reported as rape, said the speakers.
Among others, child leaders and Children’s Federation members Smruti Kumari Sahu, Ankita Sahu , Amit Kumar Das, Pooja Das and Kalia Das and Youth for Social Development’s Chandan Sahu, Abhiram Kanhar, Bala Das and Archana Sahu were present.