Name: Mehak WadhvaClass: 7th D

Care for Girl ChildIf there was one malaise that affects women worldwide, it would be their tendency to place their needs and health concerns last, keeping their family’s needs first and foremost. But if you don’t take care of yourself, who will? And how will you take care of others if you are not in the pink of health yourself? So when it comes to girl child care, not only should it start in the womb, but it is important that the mother too model a healthy regime of healthcare for herself.

When it comes to the facts of girl child care, it is medically well known that a girl’s body requires more calcium, iron and other nutrients in its formative years, as the onset of puberty and menopause much later in life brings about so many hormonal and chemical changes in a woman’s body. Unless girl child care is taken seriously, her body might not be able to withstand childbirth and the many other strains that a woman’s body has to endure in the later stage if not taken care of properly, like osteoporosis for instance. Even if a woman chooses not to be a mother, her body has to be strong for the future and this foundation is laid in her childhood.

Girl child care should ideally start by instilling in the child a healthy sense of self, which is far removed from the images portrayed by the media and the prejudices of society. Looking after her mind and exploring her inner potential and intellectual abilities should be given as much importance as nourishing her body with the right nutrients and food.

Girl child care obviously cannot be complete without the nutritional aspect taken care off. Since a woman’s body needs more iron, calcium and folate, the sources of these should be amply included in the daily diet, from an early age. Apart from this, do not forget to include fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat. Restrict the amount of salt, sugar, and oils in order to maintain a healthy BMI.For a more detailed nutritional guideline to girl child care,

remember to have at least 3 servings of fruit, 4 servings of vegetables, including leafy greens, and six or more servings of grain products. A good combination of carbohydrates and proteins along with calcium sources like milk, cheese, yoghurt, is a must for complete girl child care, from a nutritional standpoint.

It is important to remember that it is not just because girls are the future mothers who are responsible for bringing up healthy children that their health has to be looked after from an early age. Girl child care is important, irrespective of whether the girl will become a mother tomorrow, because it is in the hands of society to bring up a future generation where both boys and girls are treated with equal care, love and affection.

STEPS TAKEN BY INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO SAVE GIRL CHILDThe BackgroundHistorically, India has been one of the first countries to identify the Girl Child as the focus of attention for improving the overall social and economic status of women.

Steps

The Balika Samriddhi Yojana in 1997 is one of the most important initiatives of the Government to raise overall status of the girl child. The Yojana aims to change family and community attitudes towards both, the girl child and the mother.

A series of incentives were included in the Yojana, including the likes of a gift of Rs. 500/- to the mother on delivery of a baby girl and the provision of an annual scholarship for the girl, with the overall aim of improving enrolment and retention of girls in school.In another major initiative, in 2005, the Government of India also announced free and reduced cost education for girls. Those with two girls and no other children were promised discounts of up to 50%. The program also offered fellowships of US$ 45 per month for those undertaking post-graduate studies.Various State Governments have formulated State Plans of Action for Girl Child, appropriate to the condition prevailing in each state, prominently including Governments of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Goa.

Adding on, the Government had also set up policies like the National Nutrition Policy (1993), which recognizes the stage of adolescence as a special period for a multi-sectoral nutrition intervention for the females.To ensure effective implementation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994, a Central Supervisory Board was also set-up under the chairpersonship of the Minister-in-charge of Health and Family Welfare.Furthermore, the National Policy on Education (1986) was formulated to address the question of setting right the traditional gender imbalances in education, making a strong commitment in favor of education for women’s equality.

A recent news story also reported a unique campaign being carried out by over 200 people across five northern and western states of India, under the leadership of the well-known religious leader and social activist, Swami Agnivesh.Chief Minister of Haryana (India), Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hudda, also lauded the consistent efforts of Swami Agnivesh in the Campaign Against Female Foeticide and pledged to extend all possible infrastructural support and assistance.Other beneficial schemes include the Adolescent Girls Scheme, the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme, the Universal Immunization Programme, special health check up schemes for primary school students, introduction of health cards in selected areas, evaluation of health programmes, the Mid-day Meal Scheme for primary school children and nutrition education.         Reports also indicate that the government aims to eliminate all forms of child labor by 2020.

The Indian government has expressed a strong commitment towards education for all; however, India still has one of the lowest female literacy rates in Asia. In 1991, less than 40 percent of the 330 million women aged 7 and over were literate, which means today there are over 200 million illiterate women in India.

This low level of literacy not only has a negative impact on women’s lives but also on their families’ lives and on their country’s economic development. Numerous studies show that illiterate women have generally high levels of maternal mortality, poor nutritional status, low earning potential, and little autonomy within the household. A woman’s lack ofeducation also has a negative impact on the health and well being of her children. Forinstance, a recent survey in India found that infant mortality was inversely related to mother’s educational level. Additionally, the lack of an educated population can be an impediment to the country’s economic development.

Education of girls and women in general has been a high priority with the Government of India . In the new millennium, India has consolidated its earlier educational reforms with increased resources and stronger policy commitments for achieving elementary educationfor all children, particularly girls.

Girls Education at Elementary LevelRevised guidelines for Implementation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL)-BriefRevised guidelines for implementation of National Programme for Education of Girlsat Elementary Level (NPEGEL)

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