Rs 25,000 Girl Child Bond to reverse adverse gender ratio in Mehsana

Ahmedabad, Agu 1 (UNI) In a bid to reverse the adverse gender ratio, the landed gentry belonging to the Kadva Patel community in Vijapur taluka of Mehsana district has decided to float a unique 'Girl Child Bond' as an incentive to couples with girl child. The initiative has been taken up by the Vijapur Kadva Patel Samaj of 'Satyavees Gams', comprising 27 villages in the Vijapur taluka.

As per the last Census, the Vijapur taluka has the fourth lowest gender ratio of 777 girls per 1,000 males in the 0-6 age group, next only to adjoining Unjha - 742, Visnagar - 766 and Mansa - 774. At the national level, Gujarat stands third from the bottom among major states with 879 females per 1,000 males, only to be surpassed by Punjab - 793 and Haryana - 819. (Chandigarh and Delhi ratios are 845 and 865 females per 1000 males).

When contacted, Mehsana District Panchayat president Ramanbhai Patel told UNI here on phone, ''It is more social recognition to break a social taboo rather than provide financial assistance, that the community has decided to start such a scheme.'' Mr Patel, who happens to be a community leader too, said, ''We have decided to pay the parents a bond of Rs 25,000 for each girl child, subject to maximum two-girl child to maintain the two-child norm.

This will be given to only those couples, who do not have any male child. It could be any national or state bond.'' At the same time, he said, the community has decided to levy 'Shubheccha Dand', meaning goodwill fine, of Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,00,000 from affluent parents, who marry off their child in solo marriages.

This is to encourage girl child, and not to incur or pay back the cost of 'Girl Child Bond' per se, because the Kadva Patels as well as the community have enough money.

He added that the Kadva Patels in the 'Satyavees Gams' also encourage mass marriages to reduce extravagance on such social ceremonies.

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