Consider the 4 basic rights (survival, development, protection, participation) guaranteed to all children by the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child. India has ratified this treaty, yet girl children continue to be aborted at birth or killed soon after, just for being girls. Even if they survive, girl children are less likely to receive immunisation, nutrition, education or medical treatment than their brothers.

The 2001 census figures reveal that there are only 927 girls for every 1000 boys while in 1960 there were 976 girls born for every 1000 boys

• Every sixth girl child's death is due to gender discrimination
• Death rate among girls below the age of 4 years is higher than that of boys
• 53% of girls in the age group of 5 to 9 years are illiterate

This is the reality that CRY - Child Relief and You is attempting to change along with its 157 partners across India.

One such initiative is the Hanuman Van Vikas Samiti, HVVS, a CRY-supported project in Rajasthan. Working among tribal families in 29 villages in Udaipur district it has brought together communities to ensure the rights of their children especially the girls.

Sisters are doing it for themselves in Sanaswadi is an account of the community movement initiated by Rachana, a CRY-supported project that works in the villages near Pune

Childhood Dilemmas by Ms. Vijayalakshmi Balakrishnan, GM, Policy & Research, CRY, introspecting on the situation of children in India especially girls

CRY Connect: Vol 8/ 2005, October 2005

The Right to Survival is of particular importance in the Indian context, where due to gender discrimination a girl child has to struggle to simply exist. The 8th issue of the CRY Connect focuses on this basic right of every child in the country. Also covered in the newsletter are articles that highlight the situation of children and their rights in India

This campaign is also supported by MSN India

	If you care enough about the situation of the underprivileged Indian child, to do something, YOU CAN.
	Donate When you donate online, you help twice over, as it is the most cost-efficient channel of collecting funds for CRY Shop at the CRY Shop - range of products under expressions of childhood - expressions of childhood CRY e-cards - Send your loved ones a CRY card, you will also help us spread awareness on our movement for child rights. Volunteer your time, your skills. Join this peoples' movement for child rights If you want to know more about the issue of the girl child or the rights of children, write in to us at webinfo@crymail.org or contact the CRY office nearest to you.