The survival and development of the girl child was a central focus area of CFARs   work in Rajasthan from 2005 to 2015.  During this period CFAR worked on raising consciousness on the issue of declining child sex ratio among a range of stakeholders – NGOs, government functionaries and Panchayats, by motivating them to act decisively and concertedly to address the issue. Three projects were implemented by CFAR between 2005-2015: (i) Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act: Strengthening Implementation in Rajasthan;( 2005-2009) (ii)Strengthening Implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT)( 2009-2012) and (iii) Strengthening Panchayat-led Governance on Rights of Girls and Women (2012-15).The projects were built on learning’s of every phase of work and focussed on effective implementation of the PCPNDT Act as well ensuring that the issue of the sex-determination and sex selection finds prominent place in policy and implementation. It also addressed the larger social determinants creating and affecting the demand for sex determination tests and impacting sex ratio while continuing advocacy on supply reduction issues.  Many issues like Audit of Form-F, Developing learning sites, enabling Pro girl child Resolutions in Panchayats and addressing issue of violence against women were successfully taken up during the course of the interventions. This note presents a brief overview of the processes, strategies and the impact of activities undertaken during the different phases of the projects.

The Centre for Advocacy and Research carried out a campaign “Let Girls Be Born” in Deoli, Madangir, Nangal Raya and Sagarpur areas of Delhi to address the issue of sex selective abortion.

The project, supported by Plan India, focused on strengthening the community for upholding rights of girl child. The initiative was carried out from February 2011 to October 2013.

The purpose was to establish a successful model that can be scaled up at the state and national level. This was to be done by not only strengthening the PCPNDT Act, but by also creating a strong community safety net and support system.

The thrust of the project was on developing a model municipal ward with indicators like 100 percent birth registration of new born babies, ensuring that birth registration becomes regular and all government schemes to promote girl child reaches the people on ground.

It involved timely implementation, constant supervision and monitoring of reaching out programmes and activities.

About 39 community-based support groups were encouraged to hold regular meetings to spread awareness against domestic violence and forced sex selective elimination. Initially, it was not easy to change the attitude and mindsets of people and even of officials. But various initiatives, including media consultations, several meetings with the community and stakeholders, helped in changing perceptions.

CFAR has a long history of working for raising consciousness on the problem of sex determination and its repercussion in terms of the sharp decline in child sex ratio and correcting it. It has been on the job since 2005 on building awareness about the falling child sex ratio which dropped to an appalling 926 girls for every 1000 boys in 2001 census.

CFAR facilitated the groups, which also included representatives of government bodies, self help groups, ASHA and ANMs, youth and other community representatives, to understand their strengths and limitations and developed a Resource Manual for support groups and advocacy groups carrying operational guidelines, their roles and responsibilities and an information booklet with details of stakeholders.

Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) under the Wajood Consortium undertook a major initiative to involve youngsters in the crusade against sexual violence.

A two-pronged strategy to deal with the sensitive issue was employed. The youngsters, most of whom are themselves victims of domestic violence, were carefully identified to be the drivers of this plan.

The focus was on empowering girls, tapping their potential and building their leadership capability.

From university campuses to slums, young volunteers were roped in under a vigorous campaign against gender-based violence that has been on the rise across the country.