Sushiksha

An action program helping neighborhoods reduce waste, adopt climate-smart habits, and co-create local green infrastructure.

The Challenge

Problem

from the population due to pre- and post-birth sex selection

There are estimates that as many as 500,000 girls are lost annually to female foeticide
Despite bans, widespread access to ultrasound technology has contributed to 45.8

million girls going "missing" over the past few decades due to sex-selective practices

Our Intervention

Sensitise people and create awareness about why unnatural sex selection is a critical

issue to bring a shift in the mindset.

✦

On the Ground

The 'Beti Bachao, Desh Bachao' campaign, initiated in 2004 by Mr Mihir & Mrs

Gagan Banerjee, voiced strongly against female foeticide or sex-selective abortion of

females in India.

Sarthi initiated the 'Lohri Beti ke Naam' (or Lohri festival in the name of Daughters)

to celebrate the birth of a girl child, a festival otherwise celebrated for sons in north

India. Sarthi volunteers would generally be seen wearing yellow aprons with the

message 'Female Foeticide is a sin and a crime' in different local languages. Sarthi

organised bicycle rallies, peaceful demonstrations, marches, made a documentary film

'Beti' and visited villages spreading awareness and sensitising people towards the

issue. Sarthi believes in equal opportunities for girls and boys and supports girl

education and rights. Besides often protesting against crime against girls, Sanjoli and

Ananya wrote a letter to PM Modi with solutions and propelled the administration to

launch women-only police stations for women to freely get their complaints lodged

with women officers.

… events, … villages, … people

Green Action Program

Signature Initiative

Youth-led initiative

India

Ongoing

Get Involved

Volunteer, intern, or collaborate with us to create impact on the ground.

Make a difference

Join a community of young changemakers volunteering, interning, and collaborating to build a better India.