Khap announces reward for families hailing girl’s birth

ROHTAK:In yet another step to do away with their regressive image, a khap panchayat in Haryana has announced a cash reward of Rs 5,100 for all families who celebrate the birth of a girl child at their house.

A panchayat of Sarv Jatiya Dadan Khap was recently held at the government school of Jind’s Uchana Kalan village, where the khap unanimously elected Surajmal Sheokand as its new chief.

Taking charge, Sheokand announced that in order to bridge the gender gap, the khap will give cash rewards of Rs 5,100 to all families, falling in its ambit, who perform ‘kuan poojan’ on the birth of a girl child in their house. ‘Kuan Pujan’ is a celebratory custom in Haryana where families worship the well, or any place from where they source their drinking water, on the birth of a boy child in house.

A myth revolves that if Kuan Pujan is done on birth of a girl child, more girl children will be born in that family.

“This cash reward will be an encouragement for families to celebrate girl children, like boys. We are hopeful this will slowly end the bias between two genders and myths that revolve around our customs,” Sheokand said.

The khap also announced to reward sportspersons of their villages who win medals at national level.

Those winning gold, silver and bronze medals will be given Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively by the khap.

Sheokand said they will also start campaigns in the villages of Dadan khap to end social evils, such as dowry, female foeticide and infanticide and celebratory firings.

Several khaps that were known for taking anti-women decisions have started changing their stance.

Recently, Malik khap, one of largest in Haryana, asked women to shun the decade-old tradition of wearing ghunghat (veil).

A CASH REWARD OF ₹5,100 WILL BE GIVEN TO EACH FAMILY CELEBRATING BIRTH OF GIRL CHILD, SAYS DADAN KHAP CHIEF SURAJMAL SHEOKAND