Jharkhand villagers to name houses after their daughters

Move a result of campaign to highlight the role of girls in society

Villagers in the eastern state of Jharkhand have decided to name their houses after daughters as a mark of respect to the girl child and end gender discrimination in society.

The move has earned praise from various quarters. The mineral-rich state that was carved out of Bihar in November 2000 is dominated by tribal villagers.

As part of this initiative, residents from Bhartiya village in Jharkhand’s Garhawa district will be putting up plaques bearing the names of their daughters outside every home. A total of 113 families stay at the village, according to the 2011 census. “My daughters are my pride,” a local villager Jitendra Sinha said, adding the move would convey the right message and more villages would come forward to give girls the respect they deserve. The move is the result of a sustained campaign launched by the local administration to highlight the role of girls in society and work for women’s empowerment.

The local administration headed by district education officer Sanjay Kumar kicked off this campaign after finding the sex ratio alarming in the region.

“The name plates carrying the names of girls will not only boost the confidence of women but will also create a positive image in society,” district education officer, Garhawa, Kumar said.