COVER HINDI - Ministry of Women and Child Development

Voluntary Coordinating Agencies (VCAS)
3.75 As a step towards promoting and strengthening in
country adoption, CARA has initiated the process of setting
up Voluntary Coordinating Agencies (VCAs). The VCAs
are responsible for coordination of all matters relating to
adoption in a State as also to promote in-country adoption.
They also maintain list of prospective adoptive parents.
Girl Child
3.76 Girl child’s status is dramatically profiled in female
to male sex ratios of younger age groups in the population.
The 2001 Census reveals a sex ratio of 927 in the 0-6 age
group. The sharp decline in female sex ratios over the years
suggests that female foeticide and infanticide are primarily
responsible for this phenomenon followed by general
neglect of the girl child. Gender discrimination is also
Health check up at Anganwadi centre
evident from the marked malnutrition level of girl
prevailing: 56 percent of girls (15-19) years continue to
suffer from anemia; 45 per cent of the girls suffer from
stunted growth as opposed to 20 per cent of boys. Due to
dietary deficiencies, adolescent girl do not achieve their
potential weight and height. Also, 35 per cent of rural
adolescent girls have a weight below 38 kg and a height
below 145 cm. Undernourished girls who grow into
undernourished mothers continue a vicious
intergenerational cycle of under-nutrition and wastage of
women. The Girl Child is also highly susceptible to abuse,
violence and exploitation. It is a known fact that crimes
against girl child have been increasing over the years but
very few cases get reported. Rape, trafficking, sexual
exploitation, child labour, beggary are some of the form
of violence perpetuated on the girl child.
3.77 The Working Group Report on Children for the 11 th
plan comprised of a sub group on the Girl Child. The
Working Group recommendations seek to holistically
empower the girl child in all aspects. The suggestions
include addressing the various constraints/persisting
problems facing the girl child and to undertake special
measures to protect the girl child’s prospects of survival
and security, from conception to birth, in her early years,
and throughout the period of her childhood. The focus is
on four Es - equality, education, enabling environment
and empowerment
Tracking Female foeticide and declining sex
ratio
The inferior status and the crime and violence
against the girl child starts even before she takes birth.
This is evident from the incidence of female foeticide
which has been increasing over the years denying the girl
child the right to be born.
Effective implementation of the PC and
PNDT Act
3.78 The premier Act to prevent pre conceptual and pre
natal sex determination and consequent female foeticide
is the pre conception and pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques
(prohibition of Sex selection) Act, 1994 (PC and PNDT
Act seeks to prohibit the techniques of pre conception and
prenatal sex determination and to preempt the misuse of
70 Annual Report 2006-07