Parents still prefer boys over girls: Survey

Despite several schemes and studies to change the mindset of couples in India, a study reveals that there is still a “strong preference” for male child by parents who have offsprings of both gender as trust in a girl’s competence level remains “shaky”, a survey conducted in the national capital has found.

All-India Women’s Conference, which conducted the two-month-long study, released the findings today on the occasion of the launch of its year-long campaign “Wings to Fly: Celebrating the Girl Child.” The study noted that security seems to be an “inhibitor” for girls as they are being restricted due to scare of rapes and abuses and awareness about government schemes for the girl child continues to be low. Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi, who attended the event, spoke about the Centre’s upcoming e-box facility, which will enable students to report cases of molestation online. She also pitched for 33 per cent reservation for women in police forces.

Shelter homes and one-stop centres with all facilities to aid distressed women will be set up across villages in the country, Ms Maneka Gandhi said. However, the silver lining of the study that took into account data from AIWC centres in East, West and South Delhi was that an “attitude change” has begun and the “ray of hope has entered the four walls of our homes”. “There seems to be a strong preference for the male child. Trust in a girl’s competence level is still low and appears shaky. Families are scantly aware of government schemes for the girl child. They had little view on how to take the help of police, law, doctors, counsellors.” The study, which will be expanded further, observed: “It comes out that the awareness of support provided by government through schemes is not very clear. The awareness and understandings is very low. So the government needs to reach out.” AIWC president Veena Kohli said the organisation will conduct events on the 24th of every month for the next one year across its 520 branches in the country, aiming to make people aware of the value of the girl child.