On January 24, National Girl Child Day is observed and it serves as a platform to spotlight the inequalities confronting girls in Indian society and advocate for their fundamental rights. The day underscores the pressing need for parity in education, healthcare, and nutrition, while addressing issues like child marriage, discrimination, and violence against girls.
Inaugurated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008, National Girl Child Day strives to emphasize the principles of equality and dignity for every girl. Nationwide awareness campaigns form a crucial part of the day, aiming to propel girls’ empowerment and underscore society’s responsibility to provide equal opportunities and respect to every girl. And to raise social awareness and shift the thought pattern among households which had seen girl child as burden in the past, into believing and realizing the blessing a girl brings into a family, into a household, and the impact she can create when she is given a proper platform and an opportunity to live up to her full potential.
National Girl Child Day Theme:
While the theme for National Girl Child Day 2024 is awaiting announcement, past themes include ‘Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow’ (2019) and ‘My voice, Our Common Future’ (2020).
Timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2015, National Girl Child Day revolves around three key objectives: promoting gender equality, empowering girls, and shielding them from issues like child marriage, malnutrition, and gender-based violence.
The significance of this annual event lies in its drive to champion gender equality and raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by girls in India. It seeks to empower girls through avenues like education, health, and social support, acknowledging their inherent potential and advocating for a society where girls can access equal opportunities. Over the years, this initiative has contributed to heightened awareness, increased educational access for girls, a decline in child marriages, and the empowerment of girls to pursue their aspirations and make meaningful contributions to society.
While Governments and Organizations tend to come up with different schemes and Welfare Events, let us also at an Individual level participate in this social experiment, let us take a moment to introspect at an individual and learn how best we can treat a girl child, how best can we behave and become, in order to make a girl feel secure in our presence. Let us respect their boundaries, let us honor their work, let us realize the impact a girl, a woman can create under a well-protected environment.