Twenty-five women bikers have taken up their passion for a novel cause - engage common people on the skewed sex ratio issue to end gender-based discrimination.
They were part of a solidarity rally which kicked off today from here to Rohtak covering over 80 km in nearly two hours. There were also 75 male participants largely from Delhi as a part of the 'Mission Hazaar' campaign.
The campaign, an initiative of global human rights organisation 'Breakthrough', is against Gender-Biased Sex Selection (GBSS) prevalent in many parts of the country.
"Women are seldom able to take part in decisions pertaining to their own lives. They are denied their rights to choice, education, career, health, and mobility. Traditional norms perpetuate discrimination and further restrict their opportunities.
"The idea is to challenge stereotypes and fight for women's right to mobility," Sonali Khan, vice-president-India, Breakthrough, whose recent campaigns include 'Bell Bajao' and 'Nation Against Early Marriage'.
As the name suggests, 'Mission Hazaar' aims at reaching the figure of 1,000 girls per 1,000 boys in India, where currently, there are only 914 girls for every 1000 boys on an average.
"Some of the country's most economically progressive areas have some of the worst child sex ratios. Fewer girls in a society means fewer girls in public places. This makes them appear more unsafe, which further reduces the mobility of girls and women," Khan told PTI.
The campaign seeks to engage common people on the issue to end gender-based discrimination; to build communities in which everyone can thrive; and to make public spaces safe for everyone.
The organisers also undertook a survey of 10,000 youth to make them realise how the sex-ratio impacts day-to-day lives of people.
The respondents from schools and colleges between the age group of 12-25 years were asked to mention how many siblings and relatives they have in their family on the basis of gender.
