Sunday, October 23, 2011

Nakusha--the unwanted girl

Nakusha sounds like a pretty name, but it means 'unwanted'. Many in rural Maharashtra name their unwanted girl-child 'Nakusha'. Its better than killing them at birth, but still it is a reminder to the girl throughout her life, that she was not wanted, that a boy was what the parents were waiting for.
In Satara district of Maharashtra state, 226 Nakushas were identified, and in a joint move of the zila parishad [district council]and a welfare organization, and with the permission of the parents, were renamed Aishwarya.