Changing Mindsets in the Home

In Village Councils

Message is going out on poster

Through the Written Word

Brothers want Sisters and ask,

I LOVE MY BABY SISTER

‘Please talk to our parents!’

Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest forts, built in the 12th century by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal

I had life, but no voice. Speak for me.

F emale

I nfanticide

R ajasthan

+91 – 958 2222332

Marudyan society Registered Society – ITO exempt 80G - F.C.R.A. (confidential)

I would like to help in some way

Name:……………………………....

Phone:………………………………

Email: ………………………………

CAN THIS BE TRUE?

On June 20th was the shocking TV programme about the baby girl infanticide in Rajasthan, Jaisalmer area. In this programme Preeti Choudhry stated:

“According to unofficial estimates, nearly 2500 cases of

female foeticide or female infanticide take place in the state of Rajasthan everyday - Midwives say girls are

being disposed off ruthlessly - 14 cases of possible

female infanticide in three months in a single village.,” Link: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/in-jaisalmer-daughters-are-born-to-die/1/142163.html

Action Plan Visit the area, find out the truth, understand the problem and find solutions to this centuries old practice.

We made 3 extended visits to Jaisalmer district.

Our Findings: An emotional subject with many charged reactions

Statistics:

Around 100 girls are borne yearly in the Basyia belt of 120 villages near Jaisalmer. Approximately 40 of these 100 girls are born to Bhati Rajputs. More than 25 baby girls per annum are killed. Around 20 or 50% of the Bhati Rajputs baby girls are killed and the other 5 girls are from other castes.

Why?

The main reason; when an uneducated girl marries in this region the dowry in gold is extremely high. No marriages have taken place for decades among the Bhati Rajputs.

Survey:

Researched boy/girl ratio. Distributed literature, conducted meetings with elders & headmen, and concluded the following:

Immediate short-term Solution:

To supply an FD (Fixed Deposit) for each girl that is born. The FD has become a considerable amount for a dowry and festivities by the time she gets married.

Long Term Solution:

To set up a Girls’ School with quality education. Education is sorely lacking in the area. The girls will get good jobs and add to the family income. In turn there will be respect and the dowry… much, much less.

Female Empowerment “If you can give our girls a good education, we know that this mindset of ‘women are a liability’ will change and…... female infanticide will become a thing of the past.” (58% literacy in the area. In other words: men are educated, women few)

Our Appeal: Here is a need. For our plans to become reality we need active support and cooperation. Let’s not dump this one on others and excuse ourselves. We save tigers, whales and snakes…… the saving of baby-girls is a worthy cause.

Contact us: Marudyan society, Tel: +91-958 2222 33 2 Email: challenge@live.in

The mindset of the people is such that they want change and want this stigma of female infanticide to be removed. Will I, will you help?