50 MILLION GIRLS MISSING!

• According to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) up to 50 million girls and women are missing from India’ s population.

• For every 1000 men, there are only 933 women in India, while the world’s average is 990 women for every 1000 men.

• Every year in India, an estimated 500,000 female foetuses are aborted because they are female.

• In Tamil Nadu statistics indicate total shortfall of about 13,000 daughters per year. 67% due to pre-birth deficit which suggests a high rate of female foeticide and 33% due to infanticide, and neglect.

• In parts of Tamil Nadu, female infanticide is so frequent that often second or third daughters are known as 'the girl born for the burial pit'.

 

Last year, (2009) Relief Projects India launched the SHE program, in partnership with the Claretian Educational and Social Services Society to fight the menace of foeticide and infanticide, and improve the status and welfare of mothers and children.

Current programmes:

1. Registering of all female births and deaths.

2. Registering and keeping detailed medical records of ANC and PNC     mothers.

3. Assisting mothers obtain government benefits available for them.

4. Report to government any unnatural deaths.

5. Conducting educational seminars for pregnant mothers.

6. Distribution of nutritional supplements to pregnant and nursing mothers in 6 villages.

7. Evening tuitions for school children.

8. Assisting physically challenged residents of local villages obtain special government ID cards which will entitle them to special benefits.

Future Goals

1. Set up a rural centre for women to come for advice, nutritional supplements etc.

2. Start educational programmes in colleges and high schools to promote the value of the female, and address relevant social issues

3. Start a school for the physically disabled chidlren in local villages. These children presently are not receiving education.

4. Set up a rural clinic.