A lifesize statue of a woman with folded arms looking longingly at girls dressed in colourful clothes, with a solemn message: ‘‘adhi godhi khali hai, hum ne khud hi kar di hai (We have rendered the lap half-barren)’’ —this is the tableau the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has for the Republic Day.The ministry’s tableau on the adverse sex ratio comes after five years. ‘‘This is not an expression of our ego or aesthetic but an expression of our agony and anguish,’’ says P. Hota, Secretary of Family Welfare. The tableau, among the 12 tableaux in the parade, is part of the National Commitment Campaign launched by the Ministry of Health on July 11 last year on World Population Day to prevent discrimination against the girl child.The other side of the drive is to highlight the role of girls as achievers and their ability to become role models for the country. Signature campaigns were appended by the president, vice-president, PM and all ministers. ‘‘The figures in census 2001 were very depressing and the menace is spreading.We wanted to convey a very strong message subtly,’’ says Hota.In 16 districts in India, there are 800 females for every 1,000 males. It is 800 to 849 in 33 districts, 850 to 899 in 72 districts, 900 to 949 in 213 districts and 950 to 999 in 245 districts. The lowest ratio of 754 was recorded in Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab followed by 770 in Patiala, Punjab and Kurukshetra, Haryana.The tableau divided in three sections starts from a girl shown skipping. It is followed by a large cutout of Sania Mirza, the ministry’s brand ambassador this year. The letters in bold read ‘‘is beti pe samuche Bharat ko garv hai’’. ‘‘Sania was supposed to be present but she has her tennis commitments to keep,’’ says Hota. The float also highlights eight women achievers with photos of Kalpana Chawla, Anju George, Anjali Bhagvat and P.T. Usha decorating the sides.
