GIRL CHILD

Girls have been traditionally considered as a member of deprived sex in India, due to various social and cultural factors. Despite major strides by Indian woman in recent

years, the sex ratio - a comprehensive indicator of differential mortality and prenatal sex selection practices in the community-continues to decline unfavorably.

Issues: Important issues related to girl child are- (a) prenatal sex determination, (b) female feticide/ infanticide, (c) poor nutrition and health care in childhood, (d) female illiteracy, (e) child and sexual abuse, (f) child-marriage, (g) marital dowry system, and (h) low employment wages with financial dependence. Preventive aspects: Important steps in upliftment of girl child include:

a. Creation of social awareness with the help of IEC activities and mass media,

b. High-risk family counseling,

c. Restriction on pre-natal sex determination (PNDT act)

d. Promotion of female literacy,

e. Targeted nutritional/health care activities and programs,

f. Legislative actions, e.g. reservations and changes in labor law, and

g. Creation of equal job opportunities.

Provisions under POCSO Act, discussed earlier, provide special safeguards to girl children against sexual offenses and exploitation.

28.4.5