Generally, women have faced problem in social, economic and political spheres. Within the categories of women, the girl child gets a raw deal all the time. Girl child in most cases faces discrimination in terms of access to health care, malnutrition and education. Mostly economic factors can be attributed for this.
Against this backdrop, one may ask how local governance system can tackle the crisis. The Panchayat for example has been assigned 29 development subjects varying from sanitation, drinking water, food security to health and malnutrition etc. At the same time, one important point is that different Ministries such as Women and Child Development have tried to chalk out the roles of the Panchayat in relation to girl child safety.
The Constitution of India enshrines many provisions, most important of which are Articles 14, 15 and 16 that focus on equality before law, prohibition of discrimination and equality before opportunity. Article 21 discusses the right to life which has been interpreted broadly encompassing the right to free, secure and enabling conditions for a dignified human life.
Deep-rooted preferences for sons aided by technological advances in reproductive technologies leading to sex determination and selective abortions have failed to protect the girl child. A girl child does not get proper attention in terms of food, nutrition, denial of healthcare and education, Government schemes and supports. There are numerous schemes and programmes aimed at improving the situations of girl child in Odisha.
As per 2011 Census in Odisha, rural population is 34,951,234, rural female literacy is 61.10 per cent, life expectancy for female is 59, infant mortality rate in rural area is 58, the number of Government doctors and health specialists in rural areas is 1,237 (2009) and child sex ratio is 978.
In 1999, the 73rd Constitutional amendment reserved one third seats for women in all the three-tiers of Panchayat polls. This provision was again revised to 50 per cent in Odisha. Interestingly, the children are not mentioned anywhere in the 73rd Amendment Act. In this regard, a greater role for the Panchayat Raj functionaries by creating an enabling environment for women leaders is highly necessary. The role of ASHA workers, ANMs and Anganwadis workers should get attention.
There exist a positive relationship between women and sanitation, honesty, morality, attitude and good behaviour within the family and outside. More is the number of girl child in a family, better is social attitude of the same family. It has been observed that women are more caring in social and economic spheres.
Village elders consisting of old men and women should constitute a committee for safety of girls. Registration of marriage, death and birth certificates should be should be handed over to the Panchayat at the village level. Expectant mothers with pregnancy starting from three months should be recorded by the girl safety committee. The Government should promote those NGOs working on protection of survival of girl child in Odisha. Capacity development for ASHAs, ANMs and Anganwadis workers should be enhanced. An orientation programme for dissemination of information on the protection of girl child should be conducted for the PRI representatives. In order to educate the importance of the girl child among the masses the role of NGOs and civil societies should be recognized and given importance. Posters, pamphlets, drama and one act play should be used as medium for this campaign.
(Sahay is a consultant, ISS, New Delhi, and Sethi is an assistant professor based in Delhi)