When it comes to sex ratio, Haryana ranks a lowly 31 among the 29 states and seven Union Territories. According to the 2011 Census, Haryana’s sex ratio is 877 females to 1,000 males, well below the national average of 940.
There are no official figures, but each year an estimated 37,000 girls in the state are killed before they are born — that is, more than four girls every hour. With only 2.2 per cent of the total children in India, Haryana registers a high four per cent of total female foeticides.
Early this year, the BJP government launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme with much fanfare. The campaign was flagged off from Haryana, which has 12 of the 100 worst districts for sex ratio. Besides girl child welfare, prevention of female foeticide and women’s empowerment, the BBBP’s primary focus is on improving the child sex ratio (CSR). Since 1961, the CSR numbers have been on a decline in most states.
As the BBBP is implemented in 100 gender-critical districts across India, Bibipur village in Jind district, Haryana, is quietly staging a revolution of sorts.
On June 9, the village, which has officially renamed itself Bibipur — The Women’s World, announced the Beti Badhao Selfie Banao contest. In a state where the custom of purdah is still observed, the simple selfie of father/mother and daughter is in itself a powerful statement. Entries poured in from near and far — UP, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and so on.
Among the 794 entries received, three were chosen on June 19 for a cash prize of ₹2,100. All they had to do was pick up their mobiles, adjust their cameras and say cheese.