Kanya Bachao Abhiyaan
18th August, 2011
Mumbai University had organized a programme for the NSS volunteers and cultural committee members of all colleges under Mumbai University at NSS office, Churchgate. Two members from each college had participated in this programme.
The programme commenced at 12pm. It started with the NSS song “aapan sare midun nishchay karu” followed by a song sung by few students written by Saint Eknath and Saint Tukaram on girl child. The lamp lightening was done in front of the portrait of Sawitri Bai Phule by Dr. Kranti Jejulkar, Ms. Prachi Bhide, Ms. Jyoti Bhapsekar, Ms. Varsha Gaikwad and Dr.Rajan. After the lamp lightening, the chief guests were seated on the dais. Dr. Kranti Jejulkar inaugurated the programme by a speech on the purpose behind conduction of this programme and informed the students about the workshops that are conducted to support this ‘abhiyaan’.
The next speech was given by Mr.Ulhas on equality between the two sexes. He pointed that if a murderer is sentenced to death, then why a person who kills a girl child is arrested for only 3 years. He stated that women who are the actual victims should come forward and file complaint against the illegal acts on websites like ‘Amaachi mulgi’ which has been launched by the government.
Then, Ms. Jyoti Bhapsekar informed that there are 18,000 sonography machines out of which only 8000 machines are legally registered and explained about the misuse of sonography machines which is one of the way through which a girl child is killed before birth. She also mentioned that due to the portable sonography machines, it has become more difficult to identify the unregistered machines.
Further, Ms. Varsha Gaikwad shared her experience of the surveys conducted by her and the people’s reaction on those surveys. She emphasized that the aim of saving a girl child should be achieved by changing people’s mentality and not by banning the technologies that can kill a girl child. She enlightened about the mediums through which the message of saving a girl child can be spread by the students.
Final speech was given by Dr. Rajan Welunkar. He said that statistically, in future there will be only 100 women per 1000 men. He mentioned that this act is a ‘movement’ and not a ‘struggle’ to save a girl child. He insisted that the youth should spread awareness about this movement of saving the girl child and the programme ended with a vote of thanks.