Soap opera tackles female foeticide in India

A third series of a Plan-supported Indian television soap opera, 'Atmajaa' - Born from the Soul - was launched in 2008 with the aim of spreading messages of equality, female empowerment and the consequences of female infanticide.

The thirteen episodes were broadcast every Saturday on the national Doordarshan channel and the hope is that the blend of drama and topical issues will have made a real impact on viewers' attitudes.

India's 2001 census showed a significant gender imbalance in the population, with only 933 females per 1000 males. The prime reasons for this discrepancy are social, cultural and economic pressures, and prejudices and myths about girl children. The introduction of ultrasound scans which can determine the sex of an unborn child has led to a huge rise in abortions of female foetuses.

"Atmajaa" deals with the myth that daughters are a liability. It attacks female foeticide and the root causes of female foeticide: gender discrimination leading to preference for sons, dowry, denial of the reproductive rights of women and low status of women.

It also tackles burning issues like rape, sexual harassment at work and domestic violence. It exposes the shocking consequences of foeticide such as forced polyandry, trafficking, child marriage and the spread of HIV/AIDS. It sensitively portrays the void created by the absence of a woman, a woman who could be an affectionate mother, sister or a sweetheart or a loving Bhabi (sister-in-law).

The series has strong identifiable characters and aims at empowering women, shaping individual behaviour, encouraging interpersonal relationships and breaking traditional myths about the girl child. While it revolves around women's issues, it aims to include the male audience with positive male role models.

Find out more about Plan's campaign for girls' rights at www.becauseiamagirl.org