Miradevi Ahirwal – social health activist combating gender discrimination in rural India
With UNFPA’s support Miradevi Ahirwal leads a cadre of 18 accredited social health activists (ASHAs) in Chattarpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India. Under her supervision, the ASHAs regularly engage with over 10,000 local families on issues related to family planning, women’s bodily autonomy and harmful social norms.
“Son preference is a rampant social evil in our region. In my work, I come across cases where women are pressured to get pregnant again and again due to a desire for a male child. I also see the negative health outcomes of closely spaced pregnancies. As the resources of families are devoted towards the upbringing of the male child, young daughters are often completely left behind,” Miradevi explains.
Miradevi and her cadre of ASHAs aim to challenge these sentiments by educating both men and women on women’s reproductive rights, healthy pregnancy-related practices and the negative societal impact caused by discrimination towards women and girls. The cadres also counsel women in the community on different family planning methods available to them.
While a lot of work remains to be done, Miradevi feels that the example she provides as a community leader can lead to the eradication of harmful social norms. When she got married herself, she insisted on having only two children, regardless of their gender. When she and her husband had two daughters, they considered the family complete despite the opinions of their community.
“We wanted to give our two daughters the best chance at life with the finest education and opportunities. While people would taunt us about them being just girls, we never once undermined their potential. They are no less than boys, and it is only a matter of time before they spread their wings and fly,” she states with confidence.