17 August,2011 07:23 AM IST | | Rinkita Gurav
NGOs and MP Supriya Sule roped in to spread awareness about the issue, with screening of short films and other programmes
With the census glaringly pointing to a skewed gender ratio, Ganesh Mandals in the city have decided to stand up to the cause of saving the girl child by putting a halt to the sex determination tests in the state.
Supporting their cause is Baramati MP Supriya Sule who would help the mandals raise awareness with engaging films on the subject for Mumbaikars.
The mandals have already collaborated with Ladli NGO to propagate the cause.
Naresh Dahibaokar, president of Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti, an umbrella committee of mandals, told MiD DAY that Sule has agreed to send in some short films to be showcased at the pandals.
"Two of our mandals have agreed to showcase the movies oncurbing female infanticide and foeticide at their pandals. One of them is Parlyacha Peshwa and Abhyudaya Nagar in Kalachowkie."
According to the provisional Census 2011 data, the number of girls born per 1,000 boys fell from 916 to 880 in rural Maharashtra and from 908 to 888 in urban Maharashtra.
Said Sule, "Although some mandals have already decided their theme, we will help in the ways we can.
We will get other NGOs to help organise debating and essay writing competitions on the subject for the citizens. We would also get private film makers to distribute short films to bigger mandals."
The NGOs would also provide posters and other franchises to the mandals for the cause.
Incidentally, Sule will also set off on a 70 km march on August 28 against female infanticide in the state.
11,970
Number of Ganesh mandals in the cityu00a0
