Art imitates LIFE - How a 2022 film FINALLY opens the mainstream discussion on sex-selective abortion

Updated on 15 July 2022

Divyang Thakkar’s directorial debut Jayeshbhai Jordaar did not make big splashes with its release on 13^th May 2022. The film also received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Though with flaws, this social dramedy deserves appreciation for attempting to draw the attention of mainstream media to a topic rarely discussed – sex-selective abortion.

Set in a village in Gujarat, the film follows the quest of a renegade couple (portrayed by Ranveer Singh and Shalini Pandey) to save their unborn girl child’s life from their own family, especially the patriarch (played by Boman Irani).

Despite Thakkar declaring, even before its release, that the film was “designed primarily as an entertainer”, the team seems to have done a fair bit of research on the topic. The film ties together a lot of underlying themes, practices, norms, and notions in the journey of the main characters.

Here are five moments from the film that highlight the inhuman practice of son-preference.

And yes, spoiler alert!

#1: How ultrasound technicians communicate the sex of the baby

(Copyright: Yash Raj Films / Amazon Prime)

Sex-selective abortion has been illegalised as per the Pre-Conception Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994. Yet, many technicians have found creatively secret ways of indicating the sex of the unborn child. In the movie, the doctor (portrayed as largely well-meaning) indicates to the father (Ranvir Singh) that his baby will be a girl by simply saying “Jai Mata Di”. This is one of the most common ways used by technicians to communicate the sex of the baby.

#2: The pregnant wife feels duty-bound and guilty that she cannot “give the family an heir”

(Copyright: Yash Raj Films / Amazon Prime)

In many parts of India, the onus of birthing a male heir lies on the mother. This cultural notion has seeped so deep in the psyche of people that sometimes the woman feels guilty and responsible for not fulfilling the family’s expectation. It is sad to see how Mudra considers it her inherent duty to produce a son – something that is not in her control. Upon finding out that she is pregnant with a girl again, she despairingly asks her husband to leave her.

#3: A village that learns the hard way to appreciate and respect girls

(Copyright: Yash Raj Films / Amazon Prime)

The first episode of Aamir Khan’s 2012 show Satyamev Jayate, highlighting female foeticide, featured a village near Kurukshetra, Haryana where, due to an extremely skewed sex ratio, the men were unable to find a mate to marry. The village of Laadopur in Jayeshbhai Jordaar is loosely based on the village from the show, where the villagers have now fully realised the horrors stemming from sex-selective abortion. This also mirrors the probable condition of society at large, which can be adversely affected if the sex ratio continues to skew further. According to UNICEF, “Seven thousand fewer girls are born in India each day than the global average would suggest, largely because female foetuses are aborted after sex determination tests”.

#4: BIOLOGICAL FATHERS (not mothers) are responsible for the sex of the baby

(Copyright: Yash Raj Films / Amazon Prime)

Elementary biology lessons teach us that the father’s genes decide whether you will have sons or daughters. It is utterly illogical and unreasonable to blame the mother for the sex of the child.

#5: Girls should be seen as heirs and inheritors as much as boys

(Copyright: Yash Raj Films / Amazon Prime)

Culturally, daughters inherit the values, the culture, the traditions, and beliefs of their parents. They play an important part in imparting the same to future generations as daughters, mothers, wives, grandmothers, among other roles.

Legally, inheritance laws in India recognise that daughters are entitled to inheritance as much as sons.

GET INVOLVED

There is an urgent need to end the practise of sex selective abortions in India. Get involved in the Vanishing Girls campaign and host a film screening in your community to get a conversation started. Write to us to let us know how we can help.

Or maybe you know someone who is being forced to undergo sex-selective abortion? We are a team of legal experts that can help. Reach out to us here.

Inheritance Laws for Daughters in India

17 June, 2022

We’ve all heard it – children attributing talents, temperament, mannerisms and physical features to their parents. While reading this, many of you might even be led to think about all the things you have inherited from them. That’s how we have been created. But inheritances are not just limited to facial, physical and behavioral legacy. The one we want to draw your attention to today is legal legacy, or legal inheritance.

The Indian Constitution guarantees gender equality before the law. Article 15 prevents the state from discriminating against any citizen of India or violating their equal rights on the basis of race, caste, religion, class, or sex etc. This equality cannot be achieved if women and girls are not economically independent. The right to inheritance is an important agency that empowers women and girls to secure this independence.

India does not have any uniform law regarding property ownership and inheritance rights of women, which means the law in matters pertaining to inheritance and sharing of property differs for people from different faiths.

Equal property rights of sons and daughters were recognised after the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 which stated that a daughter will have equal ownership in her father’s property even after she gets married. Prior to the amendment, daughters could only be ‘members’, not ‘coparceners’ (individuals who have a legal right to their ancestral property by birth). While coparceners could ask for partition and share of the property, members couldn’t. Once the daughter gets married, she stops being a member and therefore she loses her right to the share and maintenance of her father’s property.

Landmark Judgements

In 2018, the Supreme Court made it clear that the law applies to any daughter, irrespective of whether they were born before or after the coming of the law and thus will be entitled to share in the father’s property
In 2020, the Supreme Court decision on property rights of daughters confirmed that sons, as well as daughters, indeed have exactly the same rights in the Joint Family Property. The inheritance rights of the daughter do not change upon her marriage, the death of her husband, the death of her father, or anything else for that matter. Hence, the case used what has now become a famous expression: "Once a daughter, always a daughter."
In another significant verdict, the Supreme Court in January, 2022, said the daughters of a Hindu male who dies without a will or intestate will inherit the property of the father. In such cases, the daughters will be given priority over other family members like sons and daughters of the father's siblings

In many families across the country, strong patriarchal traditions have translated into fear of violence by their male relatives, preventing women from fighting for their inheritance rights. It has been 18 years since the amendment of The Hindu Succession Act (2005), but a lot of women, even educated ones, are in the dark about their inheritance rights.

Here are 3 things every parent can do now to safeguard their daughter’s inheritance:

Stay informed on the different laws that apply to you as per your faith or custom

Draft a will. It is the best way to pass on assets. While nominations help in transferring movable assets like bank deposits or insurance policies, a will takes legal precedence over a nomination. Get a probate, if required, as it’s needed in some states

Talk to your daughter, as well as many others, about their inheritance rights. Spreading awareness about these rights is extremely important

ADF India’s Vanishing Girls campaign is calling for proactive efforts by the Centre and state governments to enforce every daughter’s right to inheritance. Let’s move towards a future where daughters can freely claim their legal inheritance just as they claim other inheritances from you.

YouTube disables DIY sex-determination videos after ADF India allied lawyers intervene

Updated on 18 May, 2022

Three months ago, YouTube took down several videos promoting gender-biased sex-selection after ADF India allies intervened.

Targeted towards Indian married couples, these videos offered information on how to detect the sex of the foetus. It also endorsed and facilitated the indirect sale of gender determination kits/products.

The fact that YouTube, which is owned by Google, allowed unrestricted streaming of content on gender-biased sex selection stands in clear violation of the Supreme Court orders in the case of Sabu Mathew George v. Union of India, (2018) 3 SCC 229.

These videos further enable the viewers to gain information to circumvent the legislative intent underlying the restrictions of Section 22 of the PCPNDT Act, 1994.

Addressing these issues, ADF India allied lawyers worked on a written complaint with Girls Count, one of ADF India’s Vanishing Girls campaign partners, and submitted it to Ms. Vidushi Chaturvedi, Former Director, Department of Health & Family Welfare on 12 December, 2020. The same was brought to the notice of the Nodal Agency, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi via email on 6 January, 2021. Subsequently, pursuant to the above, the Nodal Agency had sought clarifications from Google’s legal team. They responded to the complaints with clarifications via email on 7 February, 2022 and a few videos were accordingly disabled access from the country domain.

However, some of these YouTube videos still continue to circulate in contempt of the guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Additionally, e-commerce websites such as Amazon and Dessertcart also advertise similar sex determination products, ready to be shipped in India.

ADF India allied lawyers are working on a formal complaint to the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare requesting to file a contempt towards the online content violations, against the Supreme Court orders in the case of Sabu Mathew George v. Union of India, (2018) 3 SCC 229, on behalf of the Ministry of State for Health and Family Welfare to ensure that the mandate of the PCPNDT Act, 1994 is scrupulously followed.

LEGAL AID AND PREGNANCY HELPLINE

ADF India provides free legal assistance through our panel of allied lawyers to women whose unborn girl children face in any way a hindrance to L.I.F.E (Love, Inheritance, Freedom, Equality). To know more, please visit www.adfindia.org/legal-aid.

You may also call the pregnancy helpline at 0444 631 4300 or visit www.pregnancyhelpline.in

SUPPORT

We invite you to join us in our efforts to eradicate sex-selection in our lifetime and save the lives of thousands of girls who are aborted every day. To support our work, donate here.

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Vanishing Girls is a campaign initiated by ADF India to raise awareness against the practice of sex-selective abortions and to advocate for effective implementation of the Pre Conception Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.

State Level Training on Effective Implementation of the PC-PNDT Act

Updated on 16 May, 2022

On 30 April, 2022, ADF India’s Vanishing Girls Campaign and Girls Count in collaboration with the Directorate of Family Welfare, Health & Family Welfare Department, GNCT of Delhi organised a State Level Training in New Delhi on effective implementation of the PC-PNDT Act.

Sh. Amit Singla

Sh. Amit Singla

Shri Amit Singla, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, GNCT of Delhi, was the Guest of Honor at the one-day training and gave a special address. He stated, “A consistent capacity building effort like this training is not only helpful in understanding the Act in letter and spirit but also improves the implementation of the Act.”

Mrs. Tehmina Arora, Director, ADF India, making the opening remarks said, “ADF India, as part of its Vanishing Girls campaign, is committed to do all we can to change the situation and use our skills and resources to protect the unborn Girl Child. As a national network of lawyers, we provide pro bono legal services to vulnerable communities. We have conducted legal training on the rights of women, trained ASHA workers and doctors. In addition, we have also led social campaigns to build awareness on this issue, to check on the problem of sex-selective abortions and to promote the inherent worth of the baby girl. I encourage us to use this training to grapple through the challenges we are trying to address as we look into the PCPNDT Act.”

The panel of speakers at the training included Dr. Monika Rana, Chairperson, State Appropriate Authority, Delhi & Director, DFW, GNCT of Delhi; Smt. Mahalakshmi Pavani, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India; Shri Gude Venkateswara Rao, Director, Directorate of Prosecution, GNCT of Delhi; and Dr Satyajit Kumar, State Nodal Officer, PCPNDT Cell, DFW, GNCT of Delhi.

Adv. Uday Prakash Warunjikar

Adv. Uday Prakash Warunjikar

The technical sessions were led by Adv. Varsha Deshpande, National Inspection and Monitoring Committee; Rizwan Parwez, Girls Count; Dr Satyajit Kumar, State Nodal Officer, PCPNDT Cell, DFW, Govt. of NCT of Delhi; Adv. Uday Prakash Warunjikar, Bar Council of India; Adv. Jagriti Singh, Delhi High Court; and Adv. Jaiwant Patankar, Legal Counsel, ADF India. These technical sessions covered an overview of the implementation of the PC-PNDT Act in Delhi, the trend in Sex Ratio at Birth, standard operating guidelines of the Act, online content monitoring important etc.

The training was attended by over 120 personnel including public prosecutors, members of Delhi State Legal Services Authority, investigation officers, nodal officers, and Sub Divisional Magistrates.

SUPPORT

We invite you to join us in our efforts to eradicate sex-selection in our lifetime and save the lives of thousands of girls who are aborted every day. To support our work, donate here.

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Vanishing Girls is a campaign initiated by ADF India to raise awareness against the practice of sex-selective abortions and to advocate for effective implementation of the Pre Conception Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.

Raise Your Hand

25th November is celebrated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. At first thought, one can think of only two topics that comprise Violence against Women: domestic violence and rape - and (unfortunately) many times, they happen together. But when you think deeper about it, and realise how prevalent this issue is in our country, across classes, you understand that SEX-SELECTIVE ABORTION IS VIOLENCE TOO!

It is the first (and the last) experience of violence for many unborn girl children. Their sex is illegally detected and they breathe their last even before their first cry. And it's not just an act of brutal violence against the child, but the mother as well, as her body goes through the unnatural process of abortion, which, in many instances, is absolutely against her will, and wreaks havoc on her physical and mental health.

And this heinous and diabolical practice of SEX-SELECTIVE ABORTION is what ADF India's Vanishing Girls campaign advocates and fights against.

Here's what Vanishing Girls is asking you to do through the 16 days between 25th Nov & 10th December to raise awareness about SEX-SELECTIVE ABORTION as violence against women.

We want you to get on your social media network, on IG, reels, FB, WhatsApp statuses, and #RAISEYOURHAND.
Raising one's hand is not just a metaphor for violence, but a way of voicing your opinion.

SO FOLLOW THESE STEPS
1. Draw an orange female icon symbol on your hand (Orange is UN's colour of choice for the observance) or us this Instagram filter
2. Get creative with what reel you choose to show that symbol: take on any trend that's floats your boat (we're sending some references)
3. Post it on IG, FB using #RaiseYourHand
4. Tag @Save_Our_VanishingGirls, and we'll repost your content

How Uttar Pradesh's Proposed Law Would Impact The Birth Of Girls

August 2021

The northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh recently announced that it would enact the Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilisation and Welfare) Bill, 2021, which is purportedly aimed at addressing the issue of overpopulation. However, such a law, if enacted, would undoubtedly have a fatal impact on baby girls in the state.

The draft Bill proposes to bar people with over two children from contesting local body elections, applying for, and getting promotion in government jobs and availing government subsidies, including government food rations at subsidized rates. Similar laws and policies also exist in eight other Indian states namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.

However, far from making development accessible to all citizens of India, such coercive laws and polices can result increased sex-selective abortion and female infanticide, given the deep-rooted and overwhelming preference for male children.

A 2020 study by Nirmala Buch, a former senior IAS officer, found that the adoption of a two-child policy by states for panchayat elections resulted in a rise in sex-selective abortions; men divorced their wives to run for local body elections and families even gave up children for adoption to avoid disqualification in the election.

Situation in Uttar Pradesh

The state of Uttar Pradesh already has very poor child sex ratios.

As per the 2011 Census, Uttar Pradesh’s sex ratio for the overall population is 902 girls for every 1000 boys. As the per the Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2017 (SRS) released by the Census office in 2019, the child sex ratio had dropped to a dismal 878 girls for every 1000 boys in the state.

A 2020 study by academicians from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia predicted that highest deficits in female births will occur in Uttar Pradesh, with a cumulative number of missing female births of 2 million from 2017 to 2030.

The introduction of coercive measures will only increase this number exponentially.

By penalizing the birth of additional children, such population control policies will result in families taking extreme measures to ensure the birth of a son, including choosing sex-selective abortions.

This is apparent in even the suggestions received by the UP law commission, that permission be granted to have more than two children if the two children are daughters. These suggestions from the public clearly reveals the bias that exists against female children.

A 2021 article in the Lancet, noted that “...sex-selective abortion appeared to be more pronounced for third-order births than for second-order births after an earlier daughter or daughters. Sex-selective abortion continued to be more common in richer and more educated families than in poorer and less educated families, in contrast to differences in childhood survival and health-care access. The main determinant of missing female births in second-order and third-order births was an earlier daughter or daughters.”

The Way Forward

Researchers have repeatedly highlighted the need to strengthen policies that advocate for gender equity to counter the rise in sex selective abortions. To overall social development and a better standard of living, especially for the women, the governments should instead focus of education, ensuring no child marriages, access to contraceptives, and opportunities for employment for men and women.

However, for real change in the culture each of us need to ensure that we pledge to save our #VanishingGirls by giving them LIFE – Love, Inheritance, Freedom and Equality.

We invite you to join the Vanishing Girls Campaign by signing the Pledge and supporting our work to bring legal awareness to women.

Her Canvas 2021 - Contest Winners

Her Canvas, a nationwide art competition that took place in January 2021, invited school students to paint, sketch or draw on the theme "Isn’t She Precious!" to celebrate the inherent worth of the girl child.

The art contest was part of a 40-day collaborative Vanishing Girls Campaign countering the false narrative that girls are a liability. It promoted the message that Daughters Deserve LIFE, where LIFE stands for Love, Inheritance, Freedom and Equality.

The Contest received over 1,800 entries, with 103 schools participating from 18 Indian states. Hundreds of children engaged on the topic and will grow up refusing to participate in social evils like sex-selective abortion.

Find the winning entries below:

WINNING ENTRIES

Tejaswaani Kapoor, 15, Uttar Pradesh, captures the warm bond of love between a mother and her daughter.

Tanisha Shilen, 17, Rajasthan, urges every one to let the Girl Child be born into the world and like flowers be given the opportunity to bloom in her strength and unique beauty.

Purva Kumta, 15, from Maharashtra expresses, “My painting depicts the girl child as who she truly is, a work of art. We always celebrate great woman. But to be great, the girl child needs to be encouraged and empowered to excellence from an early age. My painting emphasizes on the need to create an atmosphere of love, peace and equality for the girl child.”

Gargi, 15, Delhi, has creatively depicted in vibrant colours the inherent worth of the Girl Child.

Pragnya Kabi, 8, Maharashtra, aptly captures the theme of our contest: Daughters Deserve LIFE - Love, Inheritance, Freedom, Equality!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Saisha Verma, 15, from Chhattisgarh says "Girl Child Day is the only day dedicated to the little angels of our families. This day allows us to admire the daughters, their contributions and the splendor they bring to our homes".

Akshaj Dhadwal, 14, Delhi, has an important message through his art - "If girls are given better opportunities they can do even better than they are already doing despite the challenges they face. We should help and support them. It is the most significant need in the world at present."

List of Schools that participated:

Total: 103 schools from 18 Indian states.

	School	State
1	Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute	Delhi
2	Akshar Arbol, Chennai	Tamil Nadu
3	Amruta Vidyalayam, Mumbai	Maharashtra
4	Auxilium School	Telangana
5	Bethany High School, Sarjapur	Karnataka
6	Bharti Public School	Delhi
7	Buxi Jagabandhu English Medium School	Odisha
8	Cambridge, Kandivali East	Maharashtra
9	Dav Public School, Nehrul	Maharashtra
10	Delhi Public School, Panvel	Maharashtra
11	Divine Mercy High School	Goa
12	Dr. R. K. S. Masters Matric Higher Secondary School	Tamil Nadu
13	Eve's High School, Alwal	Telangana
14	Fr. Agnel Co. Ed. Sr. Sec. School, Bhopal	Madhya Pradesh
15	Fransalian School Of Excellence, Aurangabad	Maharashtra
16	Good Samaritan School, Jasola	Delhi
17	Good Samaritan, Bijnor	Uttar Pradesh
18	Good Shepherd International Accademy	Maharashtra
19	Greenpark International School, Namakkal	Tamil Nadu
20	Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School	Jharkhand
21	Gurukul Olympiad School	Maharashtra
22	Happy Model School	Delhi
23	Heritage School	Uttar Pradesh
24	Jankidevi Public School	Rajasthan
25	K R Mangalam World School, Faridabad	Haryana
26	Kanaidighi Deshapran Vidyapith	West Bengal
27	Kendriya Vidyalaya Janakpuri	Delhi
28	Lakshdham High School	Maharashtra
29	Leah Jones High School, Krishna	Andhra Pradesh
30	Lifeschool	Karnataka
31	Little Flower High School	Telangana
32	Mahoday Senior Public School	Delhi
33	Mithibai College	Maharashtra
34	Mount Carmel School, Anand Niketan	Delhi
35	Mount Carmel School, Dwarka	Delhi
36	Mount Zion Academy	Tamil Nadu
37	MVMSSS, Chetpet, Chennai	Tamil Nadu
38	New Era Public School	Delhi
39	New Horizon Scholar School	Maharashtra
40	Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan	Tamil Nadu
41	Ramjas Public School Day Boarding Delhi	Delhi
42	Rosary Convent High School	Telengana
43	Ryan At Joseph High School	Maharashtra
44	Ryan Christian School, Vashi	Maharashtra
45	Ryan Global School, Kharghar	Maharashtra
46	Ryan Global School, Kundalahalli	Karnataka
47	Ryan International School, Adajan	Gujarat
48	Ryan International School, Amritsar	Punjab
49	Ryan International School, Aryawart	Delhi
50	Ryan International School, Bikaner	Rajasthan
51	Ryan International School, Brookfield	Karnataka
52	Ryan International School, Chembur	Maharashtra
53	Ryan International School, Cochin	Kerala
54	Ryan International School, Dasna	Uttar Pradesh
55	Ryan International School, Dugri, Ludhiana	Punjab
56	Ryan International School, Evershine	Maharashtra
57	Ryan International School, Goregaon East	Maharashtra
58	Ryan International School, Jaipur	Rajasthan
59	Ryan International School, Jalna	Maharashtra
60	Ryan International School, Malad	Maharashtra
61	Ryan International School, Mansarovar	Rajasthan
62	Ryan International School, Mayur Vihar	Delhi
63	Ryan International School, Noida	Uttar Pradesh
64	Ryan International School, Ozar , Nasik	Maharashtra
65	Ryan International School, Rohini	Delhi
66	Ryan International School, Surat	Gujarat
67	Ryan International School, Vasant Kunj	Delhi
68	Ryan International, Ghaziabad	Uttar Pradesh
69	Sahoday Senior Secondary School, Hauz Khas	Delhi
70	Sahoday Senior Secondary School, Safdarjung Enclave	Delhi
71	Saint Michael Senior Secondary School	Delhi
72	San Academy Kamakoti Nagar Chennai	Tamilnadu
73	Sankara Vidya Kandra	Tamil Nadu
74	SBOA School And Junior College	Tamil Nadu
75	Sharada Mandir School	Goa
76	Shri Shivaji Vidyalay Beed	Maharashtra
77	Skyline School Greater Noida	Uttar Pradesh
78	Somerville School, Greater Noida	Uttar Pradesh
79	Spring Valley School	Kerala
80	Sri Sankara Vidya Kandra	Tamil Nadu
81	St. Aloysius High School, Nalasopara East	Maharashtra
82	St. Anns High School Bolarum	Telangana
83	St. Augustine High School, Nerul, Navi Mumbai	Maharashtra
84	St. Claret School	West Bengal
85	St. Francis High School, Tidke Colony, Nashik	Maharastra
86	St. Francis High School, Vasai West	Maharashtra
87	St. Joseph High School, New Panvel	Maharashtra
88	St. Lawrence High School, Vashi	Maharashtra
89	St. Mary's English High School, Geddalahalli	Karnataka
90	St. Mary's Senior Secondary School, Bahuakbarpur, Rohtak	Haryana
91	St. Michael Junior School, Prasad Nagar	Delhi
92	St. Michael Senior Secondary School, Pusa Road	Delhi
93	St. Paul Academy	Uttar Pradesh
94	St. Xavier High School, Borivali East	Maharashtra
95	St. Xavier's College, Ranchi	Jharkhand
96	St. Xavier's High School, Airoli	Maharashtra
97	St. Xavier's High School, Durg Borsi	Chhattisgarh
98	St. Xavier's High School, Mira Road, Shanti Nagar	Maharashtra
99	St. Xavier's High School, Nagpur	Maharashtra
100	Sunbeam Varuna Varanasi	Uttar Pardesh
101	Victoria Girls Primary School	Delhi
102	Vidya Niketan School, Saket	Delhi
103	Vishwajyot High School, Kharghar	Maharashtra

Isn't She Precious!

Every day in India, 7000 unborn girls are selectively aborted in the womb, just because they are girls. The discrimination against the girl child at birth continues in life and is based on the false premise that girls are a liability. It is important to counter this narrative and celebrate the inherent worth of girls.

January 24 has been commemorated as National Girl Child Day in India since 2008 to raise awareness on the need to protect and promote the girl child.

On January 24, 2021, a 40-day collaborative campaign is being launched by several likeminded organisations, to reinforce the message that Daughters Deserve LIFE, where LIFE stands for Love, Inheritance, Freedom and Equality.

Following the online launch event, various partnering organizations will lead workshops, rallies, awareness programs and webinars culminating on the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021.

Isn't She Precious! Campaign Launch on National Girl Child Day 24 Jan 2021: Register at: bit.ly/precious2021
Her Canvas 2021: a nationwide art competition inviting school students to paint, sketch or draw on the theme Isn’t She Precious!

Her Canvas 2021

Her Canvas 2021 is a nationwide art competition inviting school students to paint, sketch or draw on the theme Isn’t She Precious!

We want you to use art to promote the message that Daughters Deserve LIFE, where LIFE stands for Love, Inheritance, Freedom and Equality.

Every day in India, 7000 unborn girls are selectively aborted in the womb, just because they are girls. The discrimination against the girl child at birth continues in life and is based on the false premise that girls are a liability.

This art contest is part of a 40-day collaborative Vanishing Girls Campaign that counters this false narrative and celebrates the inherent worth of the girl child.

Prizes

The top 5 entries will each receive special vouchers for ₹3,000/- and the first 100 entrants will all receive a certificate of participation.

Guidelines

All school students under the age of 18 can participate
The painting, sketch or drawing must capture the theme “Isn’t She Precious” to emphasize the inherent worth of every girl child
Only original work will be accepted
Submission
- Scan or take a clear photograph of your artwork
- Submit before 6 PM (IST) on National Girl Child Day, 24 January 2021
Winners will be announced at 6 PM on 31 January 2021

Contest has ended. Find the winning entries here

Terms & Conditions

Contestants represent and warrant that the art is original, created by the entrant and they own the rights to their work
By submitting their art to ADF India for this Contest, all entrants agree to assign the copyright of the art submitted to ADF India, which includes the right to use the art in any manner and media, including without limitation, the right to publish, adapt, distribute, copy, display or translate in printed or electronic media, even if they are not the winning entries.
By entering the Contest, the Contestant fully and unconditionally agrees to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the organizer of the Campaign, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest.

For any queries, please email askme@vanishingirls.in

True Independence for Girls in India

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently released the State of the World Population 2020 report which drew attention to 19 forms of human rights violation against women and girls, one of which is son-preference resulting in sex selection. According to the report, one in three girls missing globally due to gender-biased sex selection is from India — 46 million out of the total 142 million missing girls. The number of girls missing due to female foeticide reflect the deep-rooted bias against daughters and the poor status of girls in the country.

“It should be shocking but it isn't that while 5 lakh COVID-19 deaths worldwide is causing such a furore, there is not a word on 460 lakh deaths of girls in the country”.
Kamla Bhasin, Social scientist and activist

Tomorrow, India celebrates its 74th Independence Day. We can be proud of how far we have come as a nation. The Constitution of India resolved to assure the dignity of every individual and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; and EQUALITY of status and of opportunity. We have, as a sovereign republic, delivered on several of these constitutional promises. However, even today, women and girls in India suffer the effects of son-preference, sex-selective abortion and other rigid patriarchal norms.

The Vanishing Girls Campaign pledge to #giveherLIFE - Love, Inheritance, Freedom, and Equality is aimed at realizing true independence for girls in India.

Love: Every girl has the right to be born into the world and be loved and cherished just as sons are. The progress of our country would not have been possible without the contribution of women and girls. From the freedom struggle movement to the current COVID-19 pandemic, India’s daughters have been at the forefront, developing and supporting the country hand-in-hand with men. Daughters are no less than sons, and they deserve equal love, care and respect.

Inheritance: The right to inheritance is imperative for the empowerment of women and girls. India’s Child Sex Ratio continues to drop because girls are seen as an economic burden. The right to inheritance is linked to the value of daughters. Recently, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India held that a daughter will have an equal share in the family property after the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005. “Daughters must be given equal rights as sons. Daughter remains a loving daughter throughout life. The daughter shall remain a coparcener throughout life, irrespective of whether her father is alive or not”, stated Justice Arun Mishra. This is an important step towards securing equal inheritance rights for women.

Freedom: A patriarchal society like ours gives most of the decision making power to men in households, in communities and even in governments. This practice in turn suppresses women and girls to stereotypical gender roles, thereby withholding their independence. They are discouraged from speaking their minds or showing leadership skills, and limited by the dangers of a crime-ridden society. In our work with the campaign, we have even seen mothers being forced to abort their daughters against their will.

Equality: Gender bias and inequality meted out to women and girls across the country have resulted in unequal access to resources and opportunities for them. By placing nearly half the population at a disadvantage, India will only hinder its own growth.

There is an urgent need for policy initiatives to bring gender parity in our society. More than ever, we need to stand with women and girls to guarantee their fundamental rights, as provided by the Constitution, so that they can enjoy true freedom in India.

ADF India, through its Vanishing Girls campaign, aims to eradicate sex-selective abortion in our lifetime and save the lives of thousands of girls who are killed in the womb every day. We are advocating for the strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.

On July 4, 2020, the Delhi Government’s Health and Family Welfare Department inducted Mrs. Tehmina Arora, Director, ADF India, in the Advisory Committee for District Level Appropriate Authorities under the PCPNDT Act.

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