New Delhi: On International Girl Child Day, YUVA the association of Youth Volunteers, working for CRY, Delhi, organised a day-long event to focus attention on the Girl Child and particularly on the pressing issue of female foeticide.
Rang 2007 – Paint another future for the girl child', is the first step of the YUVA's campaign for advocating child rights. Though this, the issue of sex selective abortion and female foeticide is well known and reported. However the public response is low because the emotional connect cannot be felt. To evoke this and to help bring about an attitudinal and perspective shift, YUVA conceptualised two events on this occasion of at Delhi School of Economics and Little Theatre Group Auditorium.
YUVA organized a panel discussion and screening of films on the girl child at the Delhi School of Economics in the first half of the day. The speakers present at the occasion were Dr Tripta Gupta, State Appropriate Authority (PNDT) Govt of NCT, Dr Puneet Bedi, ex-offio member of the Supervisory Board, PNDT Act, Mr Sabu George, Social Activist and Reena Bhattacharya.
Commenting on the issue, Dr Tripta Gupta, State Appropriate Authority (PNDT) Govt of NCT, spoke of the PCPNDT Act being strict but that it was "difficult to catch offenders". Dr Puneet Bedi, ex-offio member of the Supervisory Board, PNDT Act, described female foeticide as genocide – "It is a crime and violence of the worst form", he said. He termed the ultrasound technique as "a weapon of mass destruction" . Reema Bhattacharya, from IST insisted that "these practices continue because people do not react. She demanded the need to know why the PCPNDT Act has not worked. Presentations were also made by YUVA and CRY.
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The evening programme at the Little Theatre Group (LTG) Auditorium featured a dance performance by Benu Verma, 'SALSA INDIA' and the 'FIDA FAMILY' (in collaboration with 'DANCEWORX'), Films on the Girl Child followed by a discussion on Female Foeticide. The show came to an end with a music event featuring Suryaveer of 'M OCTAVE'
Speaking on the occasion, Shayoni Sarkar, Delhi Co-ordinator - YUVA said: "Sex selective abortions are directly connected with the growth of the number of ultrasound clinics. It's ironical how technology that should actually aid development is being used in such a malevolent manner. Curiously, this is more prevalent in urban areas rather than rural. It's an evil mix of affluence and technology."
Adding to this, Prita Das Gupta, Co-ordinator Volunteer Action, CRY said: "It is the passion and sincerity of youth that will help bring about effective change. At CRY we believe that change is possible only when you address the root causes of why a problem exists. All this starts with and attitudinal change that the volunteers are trying hard to build. CRY believes that permanent change can only be effected by a strong movement for child rights. In urban areas it is the youth and the volunteers that will spearhead this."
This event is part of a one year campaign dealing with child labour and the girl child. YUVA will be taking the CRY Charter of Demands for the Girl Child along with a special section on female foeticide to the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The long-term objectives of the festival are to:
To raise awareness on the issue of girl child deprivation
To mobilize and build public opinion on the issue
To initiate dialogue amongst the youth on this issue and motivate them to take affirmative action
To emphasize and bring focus on the issue for the public beyond the college circles to advocate for child rights
To highlight the potential of the Youth Volunteers to come together and take affirmative action for child rights
About YuvaYUVA (Youth for Volunteer Action) is a CRY Volunteer Group in Delhi comprising university students. They have actively taken up the cause of Child Rights with special emphasis on Child Labour and the Girl Child. Currently YUVA is a group of about 70 volunteers across north and south campus.
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