Sunil Jaglan is a key figure in promoting gender equality in rural India. Growing up in a small village in Haryana, he saw the difficulties women faced. To make a change, he started the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign, which focuses on educating and empowering girls. His goal is to create a society where women have equal rights and opportunities.
Jaglan’s journey as a social reformer began with a powerful moment when he asked a nurse if she felt embarrassed about herself. This question made him reflect on the deep-rooted patriarchal beliefs he had grown up with. After the birth of his daughter, he became more aware of the challenges girls and women faced in his village. He noticed how daughters were often undervalued from birth, which motivated him to advocate for women’s rights in a male-dominated society.
As the youngest Sarpanch (village headman), Jaglan used his position to challenge these prejudices. He had previously worked as a mathematics teacher and won the Sarpanch election in 2010 as an independent candidate. After his daughter was born, he wanted to celebrate her life but was shocked by the negative reactions from hospital staff. This experience pushed him to research the alarming sex ratio in his area.To combat female foeticide, he launched a Women-Oriented Gram Sabha and a community initiative called Nigrani Rakhna, which monitors pregnant women. His efforts gained significant attention, leading the government to allocate one crore rupees for his panchayat. Jaglan used these funds to empower women, and his village received national awards in 2013 and 2014 for improving the sex ratio.
Taking Initiative: Addressing Female Foeticide Directly
Given the seriousness of female foeticide in Haryana, Jaglan addressed the problem in a contentious but successful manner. In his capacity as Bibipur’s village headman, he enforced a four-week reporting period for expectant parents. Jaglan made this choice in an effort to stop sex-selective abortions, even though it was unpopular and several people felt it violated their privacy.Jaglan and his group of volunteers would investigate possible prenatal sex test cases, frequently taking on the role of detectives. They would cooperate with the police to get the woman’s husband or in-laws arrested if they learnt that a woman was being brought for these tests. This method, which reflected the patriarchal nature of the society, worked under the premise that the pregnant lady herself had little influence over these choices.
The threat of legal repercussions turned out to be a potent disincentive. According to government health data, the sex ratio in Bibipur significantly improved within four years, going from 37 girls/63 males per hundred infants to 51 girls/49 boys. Due to its effectiveness, Jaglan’s model was copied, albeit without the need for mandated reporting, in other regions of Haryana.Although controversial, Jaglan’s strategy brought attention to the extreme lengths required to oppose the pervasive practice of female foeticide. It also called attention to the need for structural improvements and stricter implementation of rules banning prenatal sex determination.
The #SelfieWithDaughter Campaign Seen Across the Country
The #SelfieWithDaughter campaign, Jaglan’s most well-known project, was started in 2015. People were inspired to capture and post pictures of themselves with their daughters on social media by this straightforward yet effective idea. As the campaign gained popularity, it captivated the interest of people across the country and even outside.The simplicity and accessibility of #SelfieWithDaughter was what made it so beautiful. It only needed a camera phone and a daughter, no extra tools or abilities. Jaglan sought to refute the idea that having a daughter was something to hide or be embarrassed of by encouraging parents to openly display their daughters.
The participation of Indian celebrities, such as cricket players and movie stars, gave the campaign a big boost. The initiative gained national attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought it up in his monthly radio speeches. The broad participation questioned the son preference that is common in many parts of India and helped normalise the celebration of females.There was more to #SelfieWithDaughter than merely starting a trend on social media. It triggered conversations about gender equality in households across the country. It forced individuals to examine their own prejudices and publicly honour their daughters. Annual revivals of the campaign ensure that the message is kept fresh and current while also reaching new audiences.
Breaking Barriers: Women in Khap Panchayats
One of Jaglan’s more audacious actions was to take on the male-dominated Khap Panchayat system, a strong local organisation renowned for its conservative and frequently anti-women views. At a Khap Panchayat in Bibipur in 2012, Jaglan did something novel: he asked a lady to take the stage and give a speech.
The people was incensed by this decision. Since Khap Panchayats had historically been exclusively male organisations, many people found it unimaginable that a woman would ever consider taking part, let alone speaking. However, Jaglan did not waver in his conviction that women’s opinions ought to be heard in these powerful local organisations.A ninety-year-old woman spoke about important issues like dowry deaths and female infanticide. She expressed her desire for women to have a say in decisions about village development. It was a significant moment when she bravely talked about women’s rights in front of 4,000 people.
This endeavour encountered several difficulties. Strong cultural opposition existed, with many people being against women serving in Khap Panchayats. Women who dared to speak up faced safety risks. Many of the women themselves were first afraid to take part because they were nervous speaking in front of an audience. Logistical difficulties of ensuring women could attend meetings without abandoning household obligations also needed to be addressed.Despite these obstacles, Jaglan persisted, and as a result, women’s participation in local governance rose gradually. In addition to upending established power structures, this action cleared the path for women’s opinions to be heard when making crucial choices affecting the community.
Transforming Words, Transforming Thoughts: The “Gaali Bandh Ghar” Campaign
Seeing that there needed to be a multifaceted approach to change, Jaglan started the “Gaali Bandh Ghar” (Stop Abusive Language at Home) initiative. The goal of this project was to combat the widespread use of slurs and sexist language in casual speech, which Jaglan considered to be both a symptom and a cause of gender discrimination.The initiative encouraged men to pledge against using sexist slurs at home. It entailed teaching people about the manner in which certain expressions and insults, which had become so commonplace that people used them without thinking, denigrate women. Men were urged to publicly promise things in order to establish accountability.Community monitoring was a significant part of this effort. By encouraging one another to be accountable, neighbours put social pressure on one another to modify their language usage. As part of the effort to end the generational cycle of sexist language use, school programs were also implemented to teach kids about polite language at an early age.
One of the campaign’s concerns was coming up with non-sexist substitutes for everyday idioms. People had to reconsider their word choice and practise greater word awareness. While changing deeply set linguistic habits was not simple, the campaign succeeded in raising awareness about the impact of language in moulding attitudes towards women.Jaglan’s knowledge that gender equality necessitates transformation at the most basic levels of everyday contact was evident in the “Gaali Bandh Ghar” project. His goal in focussing on language use in homes was to start a chain reaction that would change views in larger society.
Breaking Taboos: Health and Awareness of Menstruation
Menstrual charts were first introduced into households by Jaglan in a daring move that disproved long-standing taboos. The goal of this campaign was to de-stigmatize menstruation and help them accept it as a natural part of being a woman.There were other reasons why the menstruation chart concept was contentious. Many thought it was too intimate to be shown in public, and others were worried that it might perpetuate preconceived notions about what women are capable of doing when they are menstruating. Menstruation was still taboo in many places, especially when it came to open discussion, especially with men.
Jaglan persevered in spite of these reservations because she thought that candid discussions about menstruation were essential to women’s equality and health. The charts fulfilled several functions. They pushed women to chart their cycles for health reasons and helped normalise discussions about periods in households. They helped men better understand and assist women throughout their periods by educating them about menstruation.
Crucially, the charts fulfilled a useful function by guaranteeing that women weren’t overexerted while they were menstruating. Regardless of their physical state, women were expected to work hard in many rural households. The charts helped family members, especially men, realise when women might need more relaxation or lesser duties. Despite early opposition, this campaign was successful in dispelling false myths and superstitions regarding menstruation. It made previously taboo discussions regarding women’s health more open, which improved knowledge of and assistance for women’s needs.
Educating for Empowerment: The “Lado Panchayat” Project
Understanding that education is essential to empowering women and girls, Jaglan started the “Lado Panchayat” program. This campaign focusses on urging parents to let their girls complete their education instead of marrying them off early, a common practice in many parts of rural India.There are various ways that the “Lado Panchayat” operates. There are regular community meetings where the value of education for girls is discussed. Attendees at these gatherings frequently include accomplished local women who have benefited from education and who act as role models for younger girls and their families.
The program removes financial hurdles that frequently keep girls from pursuing their education and assists families in accessing government programs for girls’ education. In order to allay parents’ worries about safety and cultural conventions that might deter them from sending their daughters to school, Jaglan and his team work on these issues.
The “Lado Panchayat” places a strong emphasis on the connection between empowerment and education. Families watch as Jaglan shows them how education benefits girls’ lives by giving them more economic independence, greater health, and the capacity to make wise decisions.
Girls’ school enrolment and retention rates have increased in the area as a result of this effort. Additionally, as more families recognise the benefits of educating their daughters rather than marrying them off young, it has assisted in gradually raising the age at which girls can get married.Jaglan’s comprehensive approach to gender equality is exemplified by the “Lado Panchayat” campaign, which acknowledges education as both a fundamental right and a potent long-term tool for transforming societal views.
Measuring Success: Effect on the Sex Ratio in Haryana
The improvement in Haryana’s sex ratio is arguably the most obvious result of Jaglan’s work. The gender balance of the state has significantly improved over time, according to government health records. Haryana has one of the most unbalanced sex ratios in India when Jaglan started his work. There were just 832 women in the state for every 1,000 men in 2012. Deep-seated gender biases and the pervasiveness of female foeticide were reflected in this glaring discrepancy.
The most recent findings of India’s national health survey, however, indicate a notable improvement. Haryana’s sex ratio increased from 876 in 2015–16 to 926 females per 1,000 males by 2020–21. This is a huge shift in society views and the saving of hundreds of lives. Its effect was even more obvious in Bibipur, Jaglan’s own hamlet. The sex ratio improved from 37 girls/63 boys per hundred newborns to 51 girls/49 boys in just four years. This almost identical ratio is evidence of Jaglan’s grassroots strategy’s efficacy.
Positive changes are correlated with the improvement in the sex ratio. In Haryana, the percentage of female literacy increased from 66.8% in 2011 to 75.4% in 2021. The number of births in institutions climbed from 92% in 2015–16 to 96% in 2020–21, enabling improved monitoring and care for expectant mothers and their babies. These figures show how much Jaglan’s efforts and related projects have impacted the state. They demonstrate that focused, tenacious efforts may, in fact, alter deeply ingrained social norms and advance gender equality.
Motivating Transformation: Jaglan’s Advice for the Young
Many people find inspiration in Sunil Jaglan’s path from a village headman to a nationally renowned social reformer, particularly young people who want to make a difference in society. His advice to young people who want to make a difference in the world is simple: start small in your own communities and work hard to create amazing improvements. Jaglan’s efforts have served as an inspiration for many youth-led projects in Haryana and elsewhere. College students have started their own social media campaigns against gender discrimination, inspired by the popularity of #SelfieWithDaughter. To stop female foeticide, young village chiefs in neighbouring areas have put similar pregnancy tracking systems into place.
In the area of education, local educators have taken inspiration from the Lado Panchayat project and launched after-school programs to assist girls’ education. Young men are standing up to this damaging custom by pledging not to receive dowries in their marriages. More women are running for local office, citing Jaglan’s contributions as motivation.Jaglan exhorts youth to model the social transformation they wish to see. He highlights the necessity of understanding local circumstances and working within communities to bring about sustainable change. His own shift from someone who acknowledges he was “too patriarchal” in his views to someone who is a strong advocate for gender equality is a compelling example of human growth.
Jaglan has demonstrated via his numerous projects that regular people are capable of creating remarkable change provided they are dedicated to their goal and put in a lot of effort. His message to the younger generation is one of empowerment and hope: one tiny step at a time, every individual has the capacity to confront injustice and build a more equal society.
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