A Celebration of the Girl Child

Tuesday, March 20, 2012, Center for social research Delhi CSR launched the second phase of its previous program Meri Shakti,Meri Beti (My Daughter, My Strength), today in New Delhi.

The program aims to address the challenge through multiple interventions which include carrying sensitization with families and engaging with other stakeholders to correct the existing sex ratio imbalance in the capital. To mark the launch, CSR organized a ‘Kanya Janm Mahotsav’ in the Aanganwadi Center, next to the Kishangarh Choupal. The aim of this event was to raise awareness regarding female foeticide, as well as to explain the project and its goals to the community members. At this event, fifty mothers with girl children up to 1 year of age were felicitated, and celebrated, for giving birth to a girl child. The MSMB project is supported by the German Embassy and the chief guest for this event was the German Ambassador His Excellency Mr. Cord Meier–Koldt. The event started with a poem recitation by two girls of the Choupal, which was about female foeticide, thus setting the tone of the entire event. This was followed by a brief description of CSR, the work undertaken and the long association with the community, done by Dr. Milly Chatterjee, Head of the Development Division. Then, Dr. Manasi Mishra, Head of the Research Division, spoke about the MSMB project, and its relevance. Following this, the German delegates were felicitated, and Dr. Ranjana Kumari, the Director of CSR, said a few lines on the importance of the girl child, and how this MSMB project needs community support for its success. She then called upon the German Ambassador to address the people gathered, who expressed his pleasure at being associated with such a project, and the important role of women in societies across the world. Following the speeches, the felicitation ceremony began. The fifty pre-selected mothers of girl children were called, and the German Ambassador put a tika on their forehead, garlanded them, and handed over a gift to the child. Once the felicitation ceremony ended, the ladies of the community gathered to dance and sing, and created an atmosphere of celebration. The Kanya Janm Mahotsav was an initiative to make the community members realize that the birth of a girl child, is as much a cause of celebration and joy, as the birth of a boy. It aimed to create awareness amongst the people about female foeticide, and how wrong it is. The event was also an attempt to convey to the community members, that the success of the MSMB program relies on people like them, and every single person present, can make a significant contribution to end the evil of female foeticide