Efforts to discourage people from sex selection and check the dwindling sex ratio will now begin from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The newly-elected corporators will be made sensitive about the issue.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) announced during the launch of the ‘State of World Population’ report 2008, on Tuesday, that the India Institute of Local Self-Governance, in association with the former, would train corporators from areas like Bhiwandi, Mira Road and Ulhasnagar. Earlier, doctors and NGO workers had been sensitised about the issue by the same body.
“After the training, these corporators will monitor sonography centres in their respective wards and appoint or chair committees to monitor illegal sex determination at ward level,” said Anuja Gulati, state program officer of UNFPA. “They will also alert the media from time to time,” she said.
The report coincides with the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and calls for culturally sensitive approach to promote human rights in general and women’s rights in particular. The report also suggests that partnerships among NGOs can create effective strategies to promote human rights such as women empowerment, gender equality and tackle human rights abuses like female genital mutilation.
In order to provide justice to rape victims, the state health department along with the UNFPA will initiate the use of ‘SAFEKIT’. “We will have the pilot test at Sion hospital, Thane civil hospital, Kalva and one in Pune for six months,” she said. Looking at the response the project might be upscaled. The SAFEKIT will help in proper collection of evidence that can be produced in the court in favour of the victim, she added.
