International Day of the Girl Child: No gender equality in this lifetime, admits Mumbai Smiles' Jaume Sanllorente

On International Day of the Girl Child, Mumbai Smiles founder and General Director  Jaume Sanllorente, a Spainish national, speaks to DNA in length about PM Modi's Beti Bachao, Beti Padhai campaign, the general attitude towards women, and why gender equality will not happen in this lifetime

What is Mumbai Smiles doing on the International Day of the Girl Child?

In Spain, we are launching a campaign called GIRL, where we want to focus on how life is different if you are born as a girl child. Our campaign has already received support and collaboration from numerous other organisations and production companies, as well as public figures in Spain (such as the top model Veronica Blume and the actress Leticia Dolera). According to many reputed sources, India is one of the worst countries in the world for the girl child. Thus the campaign is very much relevant and important here as well. We receive multiple donations from Spain which is why we’re launching the campaign in here, so that the funds accumulated can benefit our projects in India. Therefore, we will definitely do our best to bring the campaign in India too.

While there are speeches made by PM Modi and drives such as 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao', India still struggles when it comes to female mortality rates; there are comments by leaders such as the Mohun Bagun chief who said winning a football title after seven years was like having a son after having daughters for so long. While he has apologised, how do we change the attitude of an individual?

The government should keep on taking initiatives to promote real equality. About the comment you mentioned, such a comment or declaration of a public figure, or even a politician, is a reflection of the way many people in the country still think about the issue. I am not saying that everyone thinks the same way, but progress—in all senses—comes from the evolution of the mindset of the people of a country. People still complain about politicians, but they tend to forget that politicians and public figures are also a part of the society and reflect its views. For instance, and going off topic for a second, how can citizens blame corruption with such a low percentage of people paying taxes? One must assume his/her duties as well as demand his/her rights.

What are the challenges you face while educating the girl child? Also, while Spain is more open to topics such as gender equality, there are cases that disrupt normalcy. How do you tackle these disruptions?

It is true that Spain is more open in that sense, but there is still a long path ahead, even in European countries, to reach real and proper gender equality in all aspects. But once more, I would mention the mindset of the citizens. For instance, in India if a man and a woman go to a restaurant for a meal, many a time the waiter will address the man, ignoring the woman. It may sound like a trivial example, but it is a clear indicator of how things still have to evolve.

I would like to add, even at the risk of being self-critical, that for a long time, NGOs have been confusing ‘Girl Child Education’ only with investing in the academic education of a girl, but this is an incomplete understanding of the term. Education is much more than attending a good a school. Education means values, inside and outside the school, principles learned at home from example and a lot of things which cannot be solely imparted by a teacher in a classroom.

Girl Child Education means that the whole community, specially males, must be educated to understand the value of gender equality, because they are the ones who, at present and in the future, may end up discriminating against women.

Do you see gender equality happening in the truest sense of the term in our society in our lifetime?

No, I do not think a complete transformation will take place because it takes a lot of time to transform the mindsets of present and future generations. However, I am optimistic that the work that we are doing will make a real difference in the eventual attainment of true equality.