Mal (Uttar Pradesh), Oct 31 (IANS) Ajai Kumar, the proud father of Nargis – the girl child who was Monday announced as the world’s seven billionth baby – wants his daughter to become a doctor and serve society.
‘Due to financial constraints and family obligations, I could not continue my education. But I will leave no stone unturned to ensure my daughter completes her studies and becomes a doctor. I want to see her serving the society through the noble profession,’ Kumar, 24, a native of Danaur village here, told IANS.
‘It’s really heartening to know that a social organisation (Plan India) working for children’s rights will take care of my daughter’s requirements for the next seven years. The noble gesture by the social organisation will help me accumulate money to shape up the future of my daughter,’ added Kumar, a small farmer, who left studies after Class 10.
‘Particularly in far-flung rural areas like ours, there is a dearth of doctors. I wish my daughter becomes a doctor one day to offer free-of-cost medical treatment to poor people in villages,’ said Kumar.
Arti Kirloskar, secretary Plan India Board, has agreed to sponsor Nargis for the next seven years.
Kumar, who appeared elated after being blessed by a baby girl, said he was concerned at the declining ratio of girls in comparison to boys.
‘Even in my village, people practise gender discrimination. While sweets are distributed at the time of the birth of a boy, a pall of gloom descends on the houses where girls are born. I am not that educated, but still aware about the significance of girls in the society,’ said Kumar.
‘Why people involved in social evils like female foeticide don’t understand a small thing – that if they finish the girls at the time of their births, how would we get women to give birth to boys?’ he asked.
Kumar now plans to sensitise locals about the value of the girl child.
‘I will try to make people aware about the importance of girls in society with the help of non-government organisations,’ said Kumar.
Nargis is the first born of Kumar and his wife Vinita, a housewife, and both are school dropouts.
