The Idea of Girl Children: An Experience of Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao

The adverse impact of socio-economic and cultural changes on the Lambada (or Banjara) community has led to a decline in their living standards and well-being. The shift in this democratic community from the practice of bride price to dowry, along with the absence of infrastructure and welfare schemes, has resulted in the widespread trading of girl children. This article relies on a fieldwork-based study to support arguments for the need to be culturally sensitive in making appropriate provisions to address gender discrimination among Scheduled Tribes, particularly in the Telangana region of the Telugu states. To achieve true equity, interventions must adopt a ‘bottom-up’ approach—fostering community-level engagement, implementing gender-transformative education, promoting gender-inclusive budgets and encouraging the active participation of women in challenging patriarchal norms and supporting gender equality.