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CRY Breaks the Silence on Foeticide
Posted on: 06/Mar/2018 5:33:45 PM
India is a land of contrast. While the world observes another year of Women’s Day, there are still issues like foeticide that are causing havoc in the future of a girl child as it is hardly discussed-but it is changing. Child Rights and You has been working tirelessly on this issue and Tamil Nadu is leading a change that the courses a world of hope for the nation. CRY along with its partner Salem People Trust (SPT) has been responsible in reduction in female foeticde to 60% in 32 villages at Salem which has been reclining itself from this otherwise positive trend in the state
In the wake of another women’s day CRY brings this important yet less discussed topic to the forefront. The issue of foeticide is an important one and reflects the condition of the future of tomorrow’s women of our nation.
The Child Sex Ratio in Salem is lagging behind at 872/100 whereas the state average is 943/1000. CRY embarked on a journey to find if any sustainable solution can be found out for this issue which has always been in the back burner. What followed next, was an active work in the district trying to reverse the tide and its hard work has brought in a positive change in the district.
According to data of National Family health Survey few districts of Tamil Nadu has shown a rare peculiarity that brings a breath of fresh air to the current context of girl child issues and foeticide. Almost around 11 districts in Tamil Nadu have shown an upward trend in terms of reverse child sex ratio (CSR).
Areas which have shown this positive change are:
(Figures according to National Family Health Survey)
|
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
|
|
Chennai |
1531 |
NA |
1531 |
|
Dindigul |
768 |
1208 |
1047 |
|
Kancheepuram |
1214 |
893 |
1086 |
|
Kanniyakumari |
1058 |
NA |
1138 |
|
Sivaganga |
968 |
1146 |
1097 |
|
Theni |
1314 |
1065 |
1206 |
|
Tiruchirappalli |
925 |
1315 |
1087 |
|
Tirunelveli |
1036 |
1061 |
1050 |
|
Tirupur |
1065 |
1070 |
1066 |
|
Toothukudi |
925 |
1315 |
1087 |
|
Vellore |
904 |
1404 |
1113 |
CRY’s effort and a gradual change in people’s mindset coupled with keeping a track on carrying mothers in a micro level have helped the district to reach a positive conclusion on this. CRY has built a movement out of the issue and is ensuring that no stones are unturned to bring a positive change in the larger spectrum of the society.
How was it achieved?
Patriarchy and patriarchal notions, lack of awareness and other societal factors like the cultural hold of fortune tellers / astrologers continues in every ritual in the family who charge amount for prediction of sex of the child has also been responsible in pre-assumptions leading to instances in foeticides.
The team identified 137 pregnant women and listed them out. Out of them, 129 women were at high risk of foeticide as they already had 2-3 girl children. Individual counseling for each of the 129 women and their families was carried out. Dialogue around their health and the possible complications that may arise during the next delivery was carried out in efforts to dissuade them from carrying out abortion.
The next level of convincing was to enroll them into ICDS. They were motivated to feel proud and take good care of the girl child. The team from CRY also interacted with the family members of 215 mothers like their in-laws and husbands to impress upon them the implications of foeticide. The health impacts of foeticide, legal implications, equal importance of boys and girls were the nodal points of this discussion.
These tactful measures started from a very micro level dialogue.This was later turned into a more composite thought as the next step of awareness building was done through informing the families about the different govt. schemes,monthly health meetings were organized in the ICDS centers for pregnant mothers and young girls. Also,discussions were moderated by adolescent groups comprising of 70 individuals adolescents (42 girls & 28 boys)on the issue of foeticide.
“A long lasting change can be effected when there is enough awareness on the implications of foeticide. There has to be a mass movement with enough government backing to address this issue which still is prevalent in our society. We have been working on ground for years and have tried to work at a micro level to bring changes.s. We need to have concerted efforts to ensure that there is enough amplification to the cause and ensure right results in the sections of the society where it is still rampant, said Suma Ravi, Regional Director, Child Rights and You (CRY) South.
“This issue is hardly spoken about and it was the first hurdle that we had to cross. The hush-hush nature of it ensured that no one came to the fore to talk about it. We started organising street plays and took the discussion door to door to ensure people come out and talk about it, said Ms Jeyam Manohar, Project Director ,Salem People Trust
CRY believes that children are the best messengers of change. Cultural programs were organized to sensitize the community. This has worked increasingly well to give voices which matter to children who need the most. As an act of motivation CRY’s on ground team also identified one couple that have resisted female foeticide and spread awareness on the issue as well within the community.
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