Nanhi Chhaan
A PROLIFERATION OF AN INTIATIVE THAT FIGHTS AGAINST FEMALE FOETICIDE AND TOWARDS EMPOWERING RURAL PUNJABI WOMEN
An organisation that empowers rural Punjabi women
Despite being one of the more developed states in the country, Punjab also has the infamous distinction of being the state with the highest rate of female foeticide. Like any societal issue, rather than just trying to curtail the number of cases by authoritarian methods, addressing the root causes of the problem by means such as empowering women in the state tend to have more far reaching effects. It was with this in mind that the MP from Bathinda and wife of Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal commenced the initiative Nanhi Chhaan— to save the girl child, four years ago on 28 August 2008. While the sex ratio of the state has seen an improvement from being 791/ 1000 in 2001 to 848/ 1000 in 2012, between females and males, there is still a long way to go.
Many families have started celebrating lohri ( a traditional festival to celebrate the birth of a male child) for baby girls,” says Harsimrat.
“A decade ago, studies showed that every ninth household in Punjab was involved in this cruel practice. Every fifth girl child born in the state was killed and there have been reports of women having to go through as many as 14 abortions.”
Deciding to lead the charge against this, Harsimrat helped launch this initiative that now has an active presence in schools, colleges, gurudwaras, temples, churches, panchayats and various municipal centres. Nanhi Chhaan assists in setting up self- help groups ( SHGs) for women across the state that in turn spread
awareness not only about female foeticide but also about other issues such as dealing with cancer, agriculture, farmer’s issues, environmental issues and the ever depleting forest cover. The SHGs also help the women collectively set up small businesses and manage their savings in a more efficient manner.
A unique initiative, meant to strike a chord with the religious, was the distribution of boota prasad ( saplings given as a blessing) to families, as a pledge to save the girl child and save the environment. “Boota Prasad is distributed at religious gatherings. For the recipients therefore, it becomes a blessing, not merely a sapling they can discard. We’ve managed
A DECADE AGO, STUDIES SHOWED THAT EVERY NINTH HOUSEHOLD IN PUNJAB WAS INVOLVED IN THIS CRUEL PRACTICE. EVERY FIFTH GIRL CHILD BORN IN THE STATE WAS KILLED AND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OFWOMEN HAVING TO GO THROUGH AS MANYAS 14 ABORTIONS
to give out more than 15 lakh saplings in the last four years,” says Harsimrat.
“We decided to approach the foeticide issue through setting up SHGs because if these rural women are financially independent, then it goes a long way towards removing the ‘ burden’ tag attached to the girl child. That is why we make a concentrated effort to help women become self- sufficient by acquiring various skill sets,” explained 46 year old Harsimrat.
Her NGO, Saanjh foundation, launched as part of the Nanhi Chhaan initiative has opened 75 silaai centres ( stitching centres) at villages, where training is provided to more than 1900 girls in stitching clothes, weaving durries ( traditional Punjabi mats) and phulkari ( a traditional embroidery technique of Punjab, used to decorate shawls and scarves). Saanjh foundation is also set to open outlets in cities across the state where the items produced at the silaai centres can be retailed as well. Funding for the organisation comes through the support it enjoys since many of its patrons hold prominent positions in the state’s political and civil machinery. External support from other global institutions such as Save the Children, World Wildlife Fund and Confederation of Indian Industries ( CII) have helped place the organisation in the driving seat to lead the charge against not only female foeticide but also to address grave environmental concerns. Being part of the government apparatus as well, Harsimrat has been able to promote this initiative vigorously and Nanhi Chhaan has now received recognition from international organisations like UNICEF and CRY and offers incentives like fixed deposits to parents on the birth of a second girl child. An initiative that is much needed in Punjab, Nanhi Chhaan has the potential to go a long way in making the state a safe place for the girl child.