What started off as one man’s mission against female foeticide nearly a year ago has now inspired hundreds of others to take up the fight.
Last year, DNA had reported about city doctor Ganesh Rakh, who runs Hadapsar’s Medicare Hospital. He kicked off a unique initiative on January 3, 2012, to waive off complete delivery charges if a girl child is born.
However, this act of Rakh has now snowballed into a social movement of sorts, an effect that even he didn’t foresee. “After reading media reports about my work, I was contacted by nearly 17-18 gram panchayats and hundreds of doctors who have not only promised to stop sex determination tests and abortions but welcome girl children by motivating families,” said Rakh.
Arjun Buddhwant, sarpanch of Karadwadi village in Ahmednagar district, told DNA, “We held special village meetings and invited him (Rakh) to talk about saving girl children. We also resolved to monitor pregnant women and report to the police if any villager indulges in female foeticide.”
In Solapur district, sarpanch Vinod Kekan of Vanjarwadi village in Karmala taluka has taken up cause since January 26. “We announced a prize of Rs10,000 to any person who gives information or helps to stop female foeticide. I had seen the interview of Dr Rakh and got inspired by it. We decided if one man can do it, why not the entire village?”Kekan told DNA over the phone.
Besides, many doctors such as Dr Pravin Dungarvar, who runs Anand Hospital at Kunjirwadi in Haveli taluka, got inspired by Dr Rakh’s initiative.
“Though it is not possible for me to completely waive off the charges, I saw his work and decided to do my bit too. Hence, since the last few weeks, I have started charging half the amount of a normal bill if a girl child is born at the hospital,” Dr Dungarvar said.
@alifiyakhan
