By His Grace Most Rev. Francis Kalist,
Bishop of Meerut,
Chairman CCBI Commission for Women
Sports is the most watched event in the world. What is noteworthy is the rise of Indian women in the field of sports, in particular the rise of Saina Nehwal, a Haryanvi girl, where the sex ratio is the lowest; and Mary Kom from Manipur, one of the seven States of the Northeast India, that is deprived of the nation’s attention it deserves. Both these women have made India proud winning Bronze medals in Olympics 2012 and also in the recent Asiad Games. Behind the stories of both these women, lies a story of grit, determination and discipline that very few in the country can boast of. It also reflects the struggles they would have encountered fighting despite the system and society at large.
The Catholic community can take pride that we have a favourable sex ratio. The educational status among females is also better. The Catholic Church in India has contributed towards the humanization of the society through its educational, health-care outreach and socio-economic interventions.
As followers of Christ and as citizens of our country, we must spread the message of equality between girls and boys concretely by sensitization and awareness programmes. India’s young population be specifically targeted through tools of mass media, event based advocacy, and reaching out to them through schools, colleges, and similar networks. Holding of competitions and participation in campaigns for promoting the rights and dignity of the girl children, analyzing with the young the personal experiences, events and occurrences reported in the media, and enhancing their ability to stand for their rights with self confidence are some of the ways by which we can make a difference.
In the context of great social change taking place in India, Advocacy strategy would need to identify fault lines where devaluation of women and conformity to traditional roles. The Gender Policy of the Catholic Church of India 2010 prioritizes the dignity and survival of the girl child as one of the special areas of concern.
It clearly shows us the way to address this problem: Policy The Church’s love for children stems from Christ’s teachings and example. Children hold the hope for the future and must be nurtured. They form one of the largest vulnerable groups in society and hence the Constitution of India has laid special emphasis on their wellbeing and protection. Among children, the girl child is particularly vulnerable. In recognition of this, international and national communities have special provisions for the development of the girl child and adolescent girls, particularly with regard to their survival, health, nutrition, education, protection and participation in family and society.
The Church supports and commits herself to these ideals. Strategies All forms of discrimination and violation of the rights of the girl child needs to be eliminated, within and outside the family. Strictly enforce laws against prenatal sex selection, female feticide, female infanticide, child marriage, child abuse, child prostitution, child trafficking and child labour.
- Promote girl child’s right to life, education, nutrition, health and development. Protect the girl child from discriminatory neglect and all forms of abuse including sexual abuse.
- Project a positive image of the girl child among girls themselves, boys, parents, teachers and society at large Church institution should avoid gender stereotyping in extracurricular activities, and provide training in skills, use of playgrounds, choice of optional subjects, handling of sexual harassment/abuse issues, gender profile of decision-making bodies including parent-teacher associations.
- Promote awareness about the government schemes for the girl child through homilies, dispensaries, hospitals, health centers, grass-root social and educational institutions and catechism classes.
Let us be the instruments of change to give each girl the dignity she deserves specially the Right to Live.