Breaking away from years of prejudice and subjugation, girls in 2023 are breaking barriers and glass ceilings. They are excelling in every field, taking up positions of leadership, and shattering stereotypes. Girls are defeating the obstacles borne out of their social circumstances and emerging victorious in the fields of sports, journalism, entrepreneurship, art, finance, politics, bureaucracy, and so on. They are cycling their way to school and a brighter future.
Several examples exist in Jharkhand itself. For instance, Astam Oraon, a girl from a humble village in Gumla district of Jharkhand, went on to become the captain of the Indian women’s football team at the Under-17 World Cup, playing against countries like the USA, Brazil, and Morocco. Astam, a UNICEF Champion of Change for Child Rights, has also been named the State Government's brand ambassador for girl's education.
Girls like Astam Oraon, Sumati Kumari, Salima Tete, and Nikki Pradhan and others excelling in sports, are testaments to the fact that things are changing, slowly but surely. Girls have repeatedly demonstrated that, given the skills and opportunities, they can be the changemakers, driving progress in their communities for all, including women, boys, and men.
The progress made is a result of the concerted efforts of governments, policymakers, the UN, and civil society organisations. A shift has also been observed in the general mindset of society with more parents willingly sending their daughters to schools and colleges.
While things are improving, there is still much work to be done.
Gender discrimination is still pervasive in society and often begins at home, right from birth, and sometimes even in the womb. Girls are more likely to engage in sibling care, domestic chores and are less likely to receive academic support beyond school hours. While the NFHS-5 report highlights that the percentage of girls aged 6 years and older who have ever attended school has risen from 68.8 per cent in 2015–16 to 71.8 per cent in 2019–21, the latest national achievement survey for 2021 shows that though there is no gender gap in learning levels in grades 3 and 5, more boys achieved grade-appropriate competencies in grades 8 and 10.
Similarly, the ASER Report 2022 also shows that boys are doing marginally better on grade 5 and grade 8 mathematics. Lack of academic support and greater engagement of girls in home chores puts them at a disadvantage, especially those from poor socioeconomic backgrounds. In Jharkhand, more than 32 per cent girls get married before the legal age of 18 years and they are the ones most likely to drop-out from educational institutions and miss the opportunity of becoming educated, economically independent and empowered adult women. Gender discrimination not only results in unequal opportunities for girls, but it also has a negative impact on their health, according to a joint study conducted by the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, AIIMS, the Indian Statistical Institute, and Harvard University.
According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, girls continue to be one of the most vulnerable sections of society, with more than 99 per cent of crimes registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act in 2020 being against girls. Girls face numerous obstacles in reaching their full potential, which are exacerbated by concurrent crises such as climate change, COVID-19, and humanitarian conflict. Girls with disabilities face additional challenges in receiving assistance and services. COVID-19 has aggravated existing burdens on girls worldwide, eroding significant gains made over the last decade.
It is therefore critical to mobilize efforts to end gender stereotypes, discrimination, violence, and economic disparities that disproportionately affect girls. We must put adolescent girls at the forefront of change efforts, by hearing their voices, responding to their requests, and cultivating spaces for their inclusion in decision-making. Adults - family members, teachers, coaches, mentors, and community leaders - must also support, encourage, motivate, and inspire girls.
Gender equality and women's empowerment are also central to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with SDG 5 specifically addressing gender equality as essential to delivering on the promises of sustainability, peace, and human progress.
We must work to improve access to and utilisation of schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, which was launched to combat sex selective abortion, as well as inclusive adolescent girl-centered schemes like the Scheme for Adolescent Girls. A responsive, efficient, and aware legal system equipped with knowledge about gender laws can go a long way towards ensuring the safety, well-being, and rights of girls and women. Hence, training judicial and police personnel and ensuring full staff strength in judicial and police services is crucial.
The Jharkhand Government has recently launched the Savitri Bai Phule Kishori Samridhi Yojana which aims at encouraging quality education of girls with cash assistance of Rs 40,000 for the girl child after attaining 18 years of age.
In this journey, it is also important that our girls grow up seeing more men and boys sharing home chores and respecting the autonomy of women with regards to their decisions about marriage, c………………hildbearing, careers, and finances. When they will see women in their homes and neighborhood as independent beings in control of their lives and decisions, they are more likely to grow up with self-respect and not take violence or suppression as granted. Therefore, pro-active and positive role and engagement of boys and men is critical in empowering girls.
It is time for us to take responsibility - with and for all girls - and work toward a future that recognises and respects their agency, leadership, and potential. As a society, we must ensure that our girls grow and nurture themselves in a safe and healthy environment, allowing them to reach their full potential. Let us join forces to create a world in which no girl is afraid for her life, safety, education, or job. Let us come together to create a better future for every girl child.
Dr. Kaninika Mitra is the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Jharkhand and Parul Sharma is the Education Specialist.