Sakshi Malik's Bronze medal at Rio has shown a mirror to parents in Haryana who love their sons more than their daughters. Sakshi's feat hasn't only shamed those who kill their daughters, but also those who believe caging girls inside their homes while providing boys with opportunities and freedom to chase their dreams. More than Haryana as a whole, Sakshi has shamed her own village - Mokhra Khas in Rohtak - which has one of the worst sex ratios among all villages in Haryana. While Haryana has 879 girls against 1000 boys (as per the 2011 census), Mokhra Khas has only 822 girls per 1000 boys.
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The child sex ratio in Haryana, and Mokhra Khas in particular, is even worse at 834 for Haryana and a shocking 800 in Mokhra Khas, although the state government claims that post the advent of Beti Bachao Beti padhao campaign, the sex ratio in Haryana has improved drastically. Its impact is felt in Mokhra Khas where from a pathetic 822 girls per 1000 boys in 2011, the sex ratio has improved to 931 against 1000 boys in 2016.
But experts believe that the figures shown by the state government have deliberately been swollen to give themselves a pat on the back. In reality nothing much has changed, and the girl child is still abhorred. But the improvement, no matter how minuscule it might be, is going to help in changing the prevailing notion and Sakshi's feat will certainly better the situation.
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While it may be early to signal a revolution, many more girls have taken to sports in a big way. This is reflected in the fact that the Indian contingent in Rio had more sportswomen from Haryana than men. Out of 20 Haryanvis in Rio, 12 were women. One reason could be the state government's policy, which started a few years ago, of giving a monthly stipend to all boys and girls who meet the minimum requirement in athletic events.?
Surender Malik, the Sarpanch of Mokhra Khas, believes that Sakshi's achievement will lead to further improvement in the status of women and girls in the state. "Earlier, girls were considered a burden thanks to the presence of dowry. But now perceptions have changed. The government's 'Beti bachao, beti padao' campaign has also worked," Malik told TOI. Upender Malik, Sakshi uncle, also said that her achievement would certainly encourage parents to send their kids, especially girls, towards sports.