By : In India the Central Government and the state governments have implemented schemes that grossly discriminate against boys. The reason that such affirmative action, according to feminists, is necessary as girls are discriminated in India. However a closer look shows that it is the boys and not girls who are discriminated against. 
The following points are raised by feminists to “prove” that girls is discriminated against.
In some states of India girls are given Free Bicycle. The scheme of distribution of free bicycles started in the year 2006-07. Girls do not have to pay any money for traveling daily to school.6
The present government of India has notified ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account,’ a new small savings instrument for girls that could be operated by her after the age of 10. The account gives a higher rate of interest.7
In the state of West Bengal Kanya shree scheme has been introduced.8 The scheme has two components:
The one-time grant is for girls turned 18 at the time of application, enrolled in government recognized regular or open school/college or pursuing vocational/technical training or sports activity or is an inmate of Home registered under Juvenile Justice Act 2000
Both the benefits under the scheme will be granted to girls who belong to families with annual family income not more than Rs. 1, 20,000/- (Rupees One Lakh and twenty thousand only. The bar for non-applicable family is if the girl has lost both parents, is physically challenged (40% disability) or is inmate of Juvenile Justice Home.
Other than government largesse toward girls, in the field of education boys discriminated against.
In Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools (which are run by Government of India and have branches all over India) a single girl seeking admission to the will get special consideration if she fails to make it due to poor showing in the rank list of the entrance examination, provided she gets the minimum marks.9
Female students are exempted from payment of tuition fee at all levels in Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools.10
The Central Board CBSE has introduced only for girls; A new scholarship scheme has been introduced from the academic session 2006-07 for single girl studying in the schools affiliated with the Board. As per the new scholarship scheme all single girls who secure 60% or more marks in their class X Examination for the year 2006 onwards would be given scholarship of Rs. 500/- p.m. for studying in classes XI and XII in schools who charged tuition fee of not more than Rs. 1,000/- p.m. during the academic year 2005-06.
There are quotas for girls in many universities and women only colleges which receive special grant from University Grants Commission.
Government jobs especially the Civil Services are coveted in India. The Union Public Service Commission declared that it will not charge any examination fee from females irrespective of her economic background.11
To add to these the feminist-led clamour for more discriminatory practices against boys in name of affirmative action which defeats all logic if feminism is really about equality.
References
The following points are raised by feminists to “prove” that girls is discriminated against.- Female foeticide is rampant in India – In mammals, male live births exceed female ones so is the case in India.1 There is nothing to suggest female foeticide as sex ratio in India is as per global standards except in the Indian state of Haryana.2 It is interesting to note that in the Southern Indian state of Kerala, there are more females than males. So by feminist logic it could be concluded that there is male foeticide in Kerala which needs to be addressed immediately.
- Girls are abused at home- As per Woman and Child Development Ministry it is boys who are abused more than female child.3
- Girls are denied nutrition and medical care- The census data shows that the mortality of male child is more or less same as that of female child. In fact life expectancy of a Female is more than a male.4 Hence the argument that female child is denied nutrition and medical care does not stand.
- Female child is denied opportunity for education- Statistics shows that more girls have cleared class X exams than boys. Toppers of most school board exams are girls. Hence the feminist logic that girls are denied education opportunity is false.5
In some states of India girls are given Free Bicycle. The scheme of distribution of free bicycles started in the year 2006-07. Girls do not have to pay any money for traveling daily to school.6
The present government of India has notified ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account,’ a new small savings instrument for girls that could be operated by her after the age of 10. The account gives a higher rate of interest.7
In the state of West Bengal Kanya shree scheme has been introduced.8 The scheme has two components:
- Annual Scholarship of Rs. 500/-(Rupees Five hundred only)
- One time Grant of Rs. 25,000/-(Rupees Twenty-five thousand only)
The one-time grant is for girls turned 18 at the time of application, enrolled in government recognized regular or open school/college or pursuing vocational/technical training or sports activity or is an inmate of Home registered under Juvenile Justice Act 2000
Both the benefits under the scheme will be granted to girls who belong to families with annual family income not more than Rs. 1, 20,000/- (Rupees One Lakh and twenty thousand only. The bar for non-applicable family is if the girl has lost both parents, is physically challenged (40% disability) or is inmate of Juvenile Justice Home.
Other than government largesse toward girls, in the field of education boys discriminated against.
In Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools (which are run by Government of India and have branches all over India) a single girl seeking admission to the will get special consideration if she fails to make it due to poor showing in the rank list of the entrance examination, provided she gets the minimum marks.9
Female students are exempted from payment of tuition fee at all levels in Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools.10
The Central Board CBSE has introduced only for girls; A new scholarship scheme has been introduced from the academic session 2006-07 for single girl studying in the schools affiliated with the Board. As per the new scholarship scheme all single girls who secure 60% or more marks in their class X Examination for the year 2006 onwards would be given scholarship of Rs. 500/- p.m. for studying in classes XI and XII in schools who charged tuition fee of not more than Rs. 1,000/- p.m. during the academic year 2005-06.
There are quotas for girls in many universities and women only colleges which receive special grant from University Grants Commission.
Government jobs especially the Civil Services are coveted in India. The Union Public Service Commission declared that it will not charge any examination fee from females irrespective of her economic background.11
To add to these the feminist-led clamour for more discriminatory practices against boys in name of affirmative action which defeats all logic if feminism is really about equality.
References
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC102777/
- http://themalefactor.com/2015/02/12/is-indias-census-data-deliberately-fudged-to-show-skewed-gender-ratio/
- http://wcd.nic.in/childabuse.pdf
- http://infochangeindia.org/public-health/statistics/life-expectancy-for-males-and-females-in-selected-states-in-india.html
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-3086770/Girls-outshine-boys-ICSE-ISC-exams.html
- http://schooleducation.kar.nic.in/pryedn/bicycles.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukanya_Samriddhi_Account
- http://wbkanyashree.gov.in/kp_home.php
- http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/seats-for-single-girl-children-in-kv-schools/article3165422.ece
- http://kvsurda.nic.in/fee_structure.htm
- http://upscblog.com/2010/01/04/upsc-will-not-charge-any-examination-fee-from-females/#sthash.Ffj0nnUl.dpuf
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