I came across this picture painted on the wall of a school in a village in Jharkhand. It said that, “Kaise khaoge unke haathon ki rotiyan, jab paida hi nahi hone doge betiyaan (How will you eat rotis they made for you if you don’t let daughters be born)?”
So, this was painted on the wall as a public service announcement (PSA), creating awareness among the villagers of Giridih district in Jharkhand to ‘save the girl child!’.
The fact that this made me feel disheartened was these words were coming from the administrators of the state. The biggest irony of this slogan was the photo of a girl in a veil, making rotis, were painted on the wall of a school building!
Schools should be a safe place to make young kids understand how discrimination is blemishing society; and help in changing the vision towards the discrimination that already exists—whether it’s against, race or gender, disability, religion, or caste.
The Slogan Felt Like A Taunt
But, such PSAs being painted in the school wall categorically promote gender discrimination. The sad reality is that people are so ignorant about this degrading painting. This slogan feels like a taunt somehow.
Thousands of people must have encountered the painting on the wall, but none have raised any issues against it. Women, too, are deeply embedded in the gender discrimination that exists in society.
In most parts of the world, we feel it is natural to discriminate over the type of jobs a girl and a boy can perform. And then, we talk about the new India, the revolutionised India of equal rights and status for everyone.
In reality, the revolution is far from over, because for the most part, the voice of half of the earth has been effectively silenced.
Inequality Between The Sexes
Coming up with such a slogan in a time where millions of girl have had to drop out of school due to not being able to access online education, may act as fuel to jeopardise girls’ education.
In my opinion, people in hinterlands do not recognise girls’ rights. The slogan confirms the bigoted thinking that girls can only be responsible for taking care of misogynistic, spoilt men, and feeding them.
Of all the inequalities of development, the inequality between the sexes requires the most concerns from all the countries.
Even the most advanced countries and those proudest in their achievements, don’t enable women to enjoy the same opportunities as men. No nation, no country does.
Youngs Kids Might Make Sexist Remarks
Another fact that is disturbing me the most is how once again, girls have been subjected to mockery in front of the public, without even understanding the deep impact of such acts.
I think the young kids will make sexist remarks against their schoolmates who are girls, after witnessing the painting on a school wall every day.
But, the question is: is there anyone who will take actions against such an act? Will anyone ever stand against the slogan and rub those words off the wall? Will anyone in that community ever realise how wrong and offensive those words are?