Status of Girl Child in Urban Slums

Rathi H.B.¹*, Viswnadham K.K.² and John Masih³

¹Associate Professor, Community Medicine, Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College and Hospital, Jalgaon Kh.(MS)

²Associate Professor, Paediatric, Govt. Medical College, Jagdalpur (Bastar) C.G.

³Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Jagdalpur (Bastar) C.G.

ABSTRACT:

Background: Since long discrimination among the children on account of sex is being practiced. There are the reports of aborting female fetus by indentifying sex and even killing new born female child in some communities. Midwife’s tip is less than the new born is a girls rather than boy.

Objective: Is there any discrimination of children on account of sex in urban slums?

Material and Methods: The study was carried out in an urban slum. 248 (123 male and 125 female) children belong to one to three years of age were included in the study. All sampled children were weighed and then graded as per their age as suggested by Stuart and Stevenson.

Statically analysis: Simple Proportion .

Results: There were only 10.40 % female children of normal grade in comparison to their 12.19% male counterparts.

Conclusion: Education will help in bringing about a change in mind-set of people by eradicating lack of awareness, gender bias and low access to government facilities which ultimately help in uplifting the living standard of people at the base of pyramid.

KEYWORDS: Education, Multi-Taskers,

INTRODUCTION:

Though women, better multi-taskers in comparison to their male counterparts, still they are giving Agni-Pariksha right from womb to tomb, since time immortal. There are cases of female feticides, domestic violence, discrimination in feeding, education, clothing’s, play, marriages, recreations etc. etc. against women.

Taking in to account the above facts and the hitch or community will not accept it right away and as per recommendation of the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) study group in 1957,that in order to get a comprehensive picture of a disease or health related matter, more and more such studies have to be carried out, Garg Narenra K.(1) and Garg Narenra K. and Sharma A.B.(2), the authors have under taken this study with the objectives to find out the discrimination if any in bringing up the children in slums on account of sex ? Weight for age of children belonging between one and three years of age was the criterion to know the status of children, this single issue is sufficient for revealing the truth about status of the girl child in the community.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

248 (123 male and 125 female) children of one to three years of age residing in an urban slum of Nagpur (Maharashtra) were included in the study. Weight for age was the criterion to know the status of children, because

(i)up to age of one ,complete weaning take place in almost each and every house hold.(ii) the children of one to three years of age are very innocent (iii)there is no choice of their own, what the parents/guardian offer for feeding, clothing ,recreation etc. they accept gladly. There is every possibility that the same has an impact on the weight of the children irrespective of their sex.

Grading of children:

The weight and age of all sampled children were noted as per their sex .The children than graded (weight for age )as suggested by Stuart and Stevenson(3) for their nutritional grading .A conclusion has been drawn by making the comparison of this grading of male and female children which will prove an independent indicator for revealing the truth.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

The data thus collected were analyzed and found that there were only 13 (10.40%) out of 125 female children belong to normal grade in comparison to 15 (12.19%) out of 123 male counterparts (Table-1). Similarly Table-1 further reveals that more female children 112 (89.60%) were undernourished in comparison to their male 108 (87.82%) counterparts.

TABLE-1 GRADING OF CHILDREN

GRADE	MALE n = 123	FEMALE n =125
Normal	15 (12.19)	13 (10.40)
Undernourished	108 (87.82)	112 (89.60)
Total	123 (100.00)	125 (100.00)

Figures in parenthesis indicate percentage

Gupta S.C.(4) in the city of Ludhiana (Punjab) noted that higher percentage of female children were suffering from Protein Calorie Malnutrition (PCM) in comparison to their male counterparts which were in accordance of the findings of the present study. Similarly in the studies in Bombay and Calcutta region about nutritional status of infants revealed the relative neglect of female child, Women in India-Surviving against odds (5).

Bansal A.K.et.al.(6) noted in their study in Kasdol (Raipur)Chhattisgarh that there were higher percentage of normal grade male children (26.65%) as compared to only (19.46%) normal female children which on statistical analysis was found significant(p < 0.05) which again more or less similar to the findings of the present study while it was reverse in cases of Tribals where proportion of normal female children were higher in comparison to their male counter parts and the difference was found statistically significant (p < 0.05).The authors further stated that it is because the Tribals are equally attentive and sincere to the cause of girl child as boys in comparison to their so called civilized, urbanized non tribal counterparts. Authors further observed that among Tribals there was no discrimination in bringing up the children on account of sex. This indicate that tribals are better human beings and any how keeping themselves aloof from the wind of change where non tribals have fallen victim of the same.

Barbara Schneider et.al. (7) found in their study that women, better multi-taskers. The study reveals that when it comes to home, women do more multi-tasking than men. Whether it is house work, cooking or childcare, they put in more hours in house-hold chores. The jobs women perform at the same time in home are more labour intensive than what men tackle. When you look at women and men in similar kinds of work they look very simple but when they come home it is very clear that women are shouldering much more of the responsibilities of housework and child care.

Modern India continues to be plagued by social and health ills like child marriage, early mother hood and domestic violence. Latest data in the "State of the World's Children report 2012"released by UNICEF on 29-03-2012 (Wednesday) shows that almost 22%women in India now aged between 20 and 24 years gave birth to a child before they turned 18.Almost 45 among every 1000 children are born to mothers in the 15-19 age bracket. Shockingly, around 57%male adolescents (aged 15-19) and 53% female adolescents thought a husband was justified in beating up their wives under certain circumstances. Child marriage is prohibited by law in India. However, the latest available government survey found 48%women (aged 20-24)were married or are in union before the age of 18 ,and almost one in five was married or in union before she turned 15.Only 35% adolescent males(aged15-19) in comparison to 19% adolescent females have a comprehensive knowledge of HIV, Karin Hulshof, UNICEF representative to India(8).

Despite various laws, child labour still exists, and regulations are not being implamented, Asha Bajpai, (9).She further stated that concept of "shramdaan" in the concepts of child rights and labour is very ambiguous and not clear at all .In her all forms of child labour should be banned. Authors also of the same view, as shramdaan a student perform in NSS/NCC camps got a certificate and from this certificate he/she get some minimum marks/preferences during admission in higher class or at the time of getting job etc., it means because of this shramdaan, he/she lost his/her time of study will be compensated while he/she is not getting any advantage of what he/she lost the precious time of study while he/she helping in domestic chores because of parents hard ship. If a child helping in house chores certainly he/she is deprived of his/her rights to play, education and recreation etc. He/she will pay attention halfheartedly, and we can’t except from them to compete with those students who are enjoying student’s life whole heartedly.

"Agni Pariksha"(test by fire), an ancient Indian idea, a very deep rooted in the mind still was used by society for women to either prove for themselves or to escape life's drudgery."Sati" and "Johar" are old customs which we thought had largely vanished .But no, not yet. It still exists, however, in different forms. It seems Indian women are still giving the Agni Pariksha (test by fire) and failing miserably (10).

Experts feel that education will help eradicate problems such as lack of awareness, gender bias and low accesses to government facilities in uplifting the living standard of people at the base of pyramid. Education of girls /women so that they can make good health and nutrition choices for their families is key to tackling the problem of malnutrition in India said the experts at the country's first ever International Symposium on Accesses at base of pyramid (11).

Indians enjoy a better standard of living than a decade ago but they are spending more on TV sets and mobile phones rather than sanitation, a decadal census of household amenities and assets released on 13-03-2012 (Tuesday) revealed. Chandramouli C. Registrar general of India (12) said the reason people didn’t invest in toilets probably had more to do with priorities rather than money.”It is not a question of the investments in the sanitation sector but of the mind-set that needs to change”. He further pointed out that people seem to have the money to spend on TV sets and mobile phones but not on toilets.

From above observations and discussions the authors reached to the conclusion that besides making laws we have to analysis/unearthing the factors responsible for the plight of the girl child. Why the community uncaring to them? or in other words we can say "what community know ? What community think? and what community do ? Then only community can be helped to make right decisions by providing experiences and insights which facilitate community actions in right direction.

The above observations also indicate that even present education have not succeeded in bringing about positive change in the attitude of people towards girl child. So the authors think to develop a new curriculum with objective of "mindset about gender bias must be changed "will have to be evolved for the school going children. Children are the real ambassadors for change. What children absorbed in schools, took their homes and disseminate among nearest and dearest and also make them a part of their lives. As they are the future parents so they will certainly follow and transfer the knowledge to the next generations and so on, and thus there is every possibility that it will become part of culture and traditions.

"Educating women is a tested solution" Sir Michael G Marmot, Chair, Europian review on social determinants of health and health divide (11).The authors feel that fees free girl education (have knowledge- be prosperous) from primary to the highest level including technical and medical etc. and be mandatory at least up to 18 years of age ,without discrimination on account of cast, religion, economic and social status etc. with special provision of compensation to the families whose children because of their parents hard ship , have to work as child labour (,sit in the family shop or work on the family farm or even asking the child to help with house hold chores like when parents go for earning the elder children are left behind to look after younger brothers/sisters etc. is like hiring child because in this way we are depriving the child of his/her child's right to play, education ,recreation.etc.) must be treated as violation of child labour law and those responsible be punished accordingly. It is often seen in early morning when children of 10 or 12 years of age are distributing news papers from door to door in such cases apart from parents and employers, the person who are getting (purchasing) news papers from such children must be punished.

Provision of compensation for such families as incentives for wages the child suppose to earn during her study period must be made an integral and permanent part of all policies for the progress and empowerment of girls (no amount is high enough to achieve this noble task of the progress and empowerment of the girls) and those violet must be dealt with strictly as this is most heinous crime against humanity even then that of rape. As per trustee ship principle of the father of the nation "Mahatma Gandhi" the affluent class of the society ,voluntarily come forward to meet these expenses of this noble task and the whole amount thus contributed must be exempted from income tax etc. even highest award "Bharat Ratna" must be conferred. on such "Bhamasaha" otherwise government have to generate the money by imposing some taxes etc.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Authors are thankful to Dr. A. K Bansal, Ex-Professor and HOD, Dept. of Community Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Jagdalpur (Bastar) for his guidance and encouragement in preparing this manuscript, without whose helps this manuscript could not came in this format.

REFERRENCES

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(2). Garg Narendra K and Sharma A.B. : Epidemiological profile of patients attending a tertiary care hospital, Muktsar, Punjab (India); Research J Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics:3 (6) November-December;2011:311-317.

(3). Stuart H.C. and Stevenson S.S.1959; Text Book of Paediatrics 7^th Edition: Philadelphia Saunders : 12-61.

(4). Gupta S.C. 1986; Proceedings of IUHE-SEARB :1^st Regional Conference : 226-231.

(5). Women in India – Surviving against odds 1989: Souvenir : IUHE-SEARB :2^nd Regional Conference : 28-31.

(6). Bansal A.K..Ashok K Agarwal and Govila A.K.; Status of the girl child amongst tribes and non tribes in the unreached rural India: J of Ravishankar University: Vol.11-12, No. B (Science) 1998-99 :pp 31-36.

(7) Barbara Schneider et. al. :Women, Better Multi-Taskers; Sunday Hindustan Times ,New Delhi, December 04,2011:pp16.

(8) Karin Hulshof :22% of mothers under 18,finds UNICEF study; The Times of India, New Delhi:02-03-2012;pp10.

(9) Asha Bajpai: Is a kid helping in house chores a child labour? The Times of India, New Delhi, February 28,2012:pp-07.

(10) Rita Aggarwal : Agni Pariksha of Housewives : The Hitavada, Woman's World, November 30,2011:pp-02.

(11) Sir Michael G Marmot: Girl's education must to tackle malnutrition, say experts: Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February, 28, 2012: pp-06.

(12). Chandramouli C.; Good news from census: Indians better off, but ignore sanitation; Hindustan Times, New Delhi, March 14, 2012, pp-10.

Received on 14.03.2012

Modified on 28.03.2012

Accepted on 05.04.2012

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 4(4): July –August, 2012, 218-220