In 2011 , an Indian census revealed something startling : Across the country , there were 7 million more boy than girls under the age of six . The reason ? In all likeliness , rearing sex activity - selective abortion . Many Indian parents prefer to have a boy , thanks in part to the goodish dowriestraditionally postulate to marry a girl off . Males are seen as an asset to the category ; female as a onus .
But what if baby girls were celebrated , and communities used them as an occasion to take actions that improve the quality of life for all ? That ’s the premise behind an innovative strategy the eco - small town of Piplantri in Rajasthan , India is using to encourage parents to keep baby lady friend . To ensure her financial stability , the settlement and parents sets up an pastime - accruing trust that can not be opened before a lady friend ’s twentieth birthday . And when she ’s born , 111 trees are planted in her honor .
The tradition began over a 10 ago , and today , Piplantrihas implant over a million trees as a result — rosewood , guava , fig trees , and more . Villagers say they ’re improving melody timber and helping restore proper rainfall in a region that ’s been ecologically damaged by one of theworld ’s turgid marble minelaying operations . They ’re also plump for a minor aloe economy , according toreportingby the The Hindu in 2013 . ( Per The Hindu , villager first planted aloevera to help keep termite away from the trees , before gain it could be work and sold . Win - win ! )
Most importantly , the integral tradition is helping to de - stigmatize female birth .
“ Before the belief used to be that if you had a daughter , you would n’t be happy , ” Nanubai Paliwal , a female parent of three who lives in the village , distinguish Earther in Hindi . “ Now there ’s no departure between our boy and daughter . ”
That ’s something I think we can all celebrate .
justice
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