Population First 1

Laadli

Mumbai’s girl child initiative

Population First 2

A Silent National Emergency

• A sharp and steady decline in sex ratios in the 0-6 age group across the country

• Sex ratio decline directly linked to availability of ultra sound facilities

• Unlike infanticide which was limited to a few pockets, sex selective abortions are wide spread across the country

• NRTs providing non-threatening, easy options to ensure that male preference continues to dominate Indian psyche

Population First 3

Sex selection is a key social issue

• Rooted in patriarchal value of son preference

• Indicative of a gender divide in society which is not in tune with the development aspirations of the country

• Also responsible for the demographic divide in the country as it encourages large families in anticipation of an elusive son

Population First 4

It is time to bring in a social movement

• The scale and extent of the practice of sex selection calls for matching interventions on a national scale

• Falling sex ratio should be declared a national emergency and adequate resources should be allocated for the same.

• It is also important to build a national consensus on the issue and mobilize all the stakeholders to stop the practice of sex selection

Population First 5

How do we bring in a movement?

• Launch a national communication campaign on the issue to create awareness

• Put in place institutional mechanisms to support civil society organizations to participate in the monitoring of the implementation of the PCPNDT Law

• Build capacities of the implementers to implement the law effectively.

Population First 6

Laadli

Is Not a projectIt is not a mere campaign

Laadli is Mumbai’s girl child movementA project or a campaign is owned implemented and led bya organization

A movement occurs....

When vision is shared when the issue is owned up byevery member of the society and when each and everyOne of us is willing to be the change we desire

Population First 7

What is different about Laadli?

• Laadli is a model communication campaign

• It addresses the core social values

that promote male preference and justify sex

selection

• It builds public opinion and promotes community

participation

Population First 8

Our objective …

is to change the perceptions and values to create a positive

image of the girl child

Population First 9

How do we change such deep rooted values?

• Break the silence around t issues and impress upon people that times have changed

• Stop sympathizing with the perpetrators and justify the crime

• Provide community support to the vulnerable couples

• Be vigilant towards misuse of technology

• Value and celebrate her life in the family and community

Population First 10

We work with

• Opinion makers, role models and youth icons to impart visibility and build public opinion

• Youth of the city to take the issue into the homes and communities

• Community based organizations and NGO networks to create awareness, provide support services and bring in greater vigilance

• Media to shape public perceptions and values

• Medical professionals for effective implementations of the PCPNDT Act

Population First 11

Looking ahead

• Gender auditing and budgeting in all development activities to ensure the benefits of development reach women

• Gender to be mainstreamed into all activities and campaigns pertaining to youth

• Establishing counseling centers and help lines for women facing violence particularly for sex selection

Population First 12

Looking ahead…

• Support to a focused, time bound and effective national communication and media campaign to bring in mass awareness about the issue.

• Investing to make the social environment safe and secure for women and enable them to pursue their social and economic aspirations

• Building capacities and providing institutional support mechanisms for the NGOs and implementers to carry out effective sting and decoy operations,