Faisal Fareed
Dajiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Oct 31: At exactly 7:20 am Nargis, the child of Vineeta and Ajay Kumar Yadav born at Community Health Centre (CHC) Mall around 40 kms from Lucknow in the most populous state of the country UP and was celebrated as the symbolic seven billionth baby of the world.

Elaborate arrangements were made and several NGO with their volunteers arrived at CHC Mall at 6 am. The conditions being that the child should be born between midnight of Sunday and noon on Monday.

Already four children were born  since midnight of Sunday before Nargis but she was the first female child. In total nine children were born on Monday at the same CHC which included seven females and two male children. Nargis being the first female child is healthy and weighed three kgs at the time of her birth. She was born through a normal delivery. She is the first child of Vinita and Ajay Kumar Yadav
(25) who is a small farmer in Danare village of Mall. 

Female child has been choosen to highlight the rising number of female foeticide in the country. The child sex ratio (0 to 6 years of age) in UP is 899 while the national figure is 913. In UP  11 babies are born every minute. UN demographers have slated October 31 as the date for the birth of the child. Even at Lucknow, on an average, 356 babies are
born in a day.

However, Ajay, the father of Nargis was elated at her birth. "I always wanted a girl child and she is a Lakshmi of my family," he said. Both the parents are class nine passed but have ambition to educate their child  and have plans to make her a doctor.

Amidst the fanfare several celebrities also turned up to express their concern and rejoice with the family. Scion of Kirloskar group, Arti Kirloskar said:" “Through this small initiative we want to demonstrate that through concerted efforts we can bring in a lasting change in the lives of millions of girls. Allowing girls to be born and giving them equal chances in life is critical and it does not cost much to ensure a quality life."