Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Oct 25: Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh will welcome the seventh billion baby of planet earth at 12 noon on October 31. The recognition has been granted following a letter from General Secretary, United Nations Ban Ki Moon that the seven billionth baby will be probably born in India or China, the two of the world's fastest growing population.
Plan India and organisation working in India for the past three decades has desginated Mall block situated around 25 kms from district headquarters to mark the advent of seventh billion baby in world. The organisation will not only confine itself to one baby, rather it has planned to select seven girl children to mark the celebrations. "We are more concerned over issues pertaining to girl child. They face
discrimination and are more vulnerable. We will be thus selecting seven girl children in Mall region born around 12 noon," said Senior Programme Manager, Plan India, Sudipta Bandapada.
The organisation has also roped in Vatsalya and Pani, two local NGOs for celebrating the occasion. Hectic preparations are at Community Health Centre (CHC), Mall where the delivery is expected to take place. Efforts are also on to promote institutional delivery for a safe birth.
The organisations have also approached several celebrities both international and national to promote the event. "We have approached them and it will be clear within two days. We expect that some of them will come forward to espouse our cause," said Badapanda. The organisations involved in the project are making efforts to ensure that girls who are born are registered at birth, receive adequate nutrition, health care services, early childhood education and formal schooling.
"We want to symbolically recognise one of the girl children born at the CHC, Mall as the Baby 7th Billion and leverage this as an opportunity to draw global attention to the cause of gender equality and justice as well as promote universal birth registration for girls," he said.