The cooking of that day’s meal wasn’t finished yet in the kitchen. Both the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law were busy—one tending to the fire, the other helping after putting her little daughter to sleep. Suddenly, government officials arrived at their doorstep, leaving everyone in the house surprised.
Soon after that, health department workers began an awareness session, reminding the family that sons and daughters are equal, both are blessings. On Tuesday, November 4, health officials visited homes across the Gopiballavpur-II area, spreading the same message. Similar awareness drives were also held outside a primary school on Monday, November 3.
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The initiative followed a shocking incident in the same region, where an eight-day-old baby girl was allegedly poisoned with milk laced with pesticide by her grandmother, simply for being born a girl. The newborn is currently battling for life at Jhargram Medical College and Hospital, while the grandmother is in jail. To ensure such horrific acts are never repeated, the Gopiballavpur-II Block Health Department launched an intensive awareness campaign in the baby’s village under the main theme, ‘Save the girl child’. Doctors, nurses, counsellors, community health officers, and ASHA workers from Tapsia Rural Hospital took part in the drive, alongside Block Health Officer Kingshuk Roy.
They went door-to-door explaining the harmful effects of child marriage. They discussed in detail what harm could come to mother and child if a girl becomes pregnant during adolescence. The mother of the newborn, who was allegedly poisoned, is also a minor. They also explained to the villagers about preventing such situations for any other minor girl. Kinshuk said, “We regularly make parents aware in the block. However, after that incident, we have specially chosen this village. For two days, we have organised camps called 'Save the Girl Child' on various issues, including protecting girl children, what harm can occur if any adolescent girl becomes pregnant, and preventing child marriage. Both women and men from the village were present. This campaign will continue systematically.”
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According to block health department sources, a major camp is planned in that baby girl's village. District Magistrate Akanksha Bhaskar and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anindita Roychowdhury are also expected to be present. The village women, especially mothers of girl children, were pleased with the door-to-door awareness efforts by administrative officials.
One such person said, “Many things cannot be spoken openly. In our society, many families still cannot accept having a girl child. Many girls grow up neglected. The respect gained by becoming a mother to a son in the same household is not received when becoming a mother to a daughter. But one should feel proud upon becoming a mother of any child”. A village resident said, “This campaign was needed. I never imagined such an incident would happen in the village. Anyone feels affection upon seeing a child. How that woman could do this, who knows!”
According to a woman named Sanchayita Mallik, “I have one son and one daughter. I never view them differently. I was shocked to hear about that village incident. The way the health department is campaigning in the village to protect girl children is commendable”.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Syed MM Hasan of Jhargram said, “The pesticide and spoon that were used to feed the baby girl have been recovered”.
According to health department sources, the newborn is still not out of danger.
