In a small hospital in Phadia, a locality in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, a quiet revolution is taking place. Dr. Shipra Dhar Srivastava, a gynaecologist by profession and a changemaker by heart, is doing something rare and powerful—she delivers girl children for free.

Over the years, Dr. Shipra noticed a heartbreaking trend. After the birth of a girl, many parents and families looked disappointed. “It felt as if they had lost something valuable. There was no joy or celebration,” she said. Especially when a girl was born via cesarean section, the reaction was even more negative because of the high costs involved.

Despite trying to explain that boys and girls are equal, Dr. Shipra often felt her words fell on deaf ears. That’s when her husband, Dr. Manoj Kumar Srivastava, also a doctor, suggested something extraordinary—waive the delivery charges when a girl child is born. At first, Dr. Shipra was unsure. “I feared for the future of my hospital. How would I manage the expenses?” she admitted.

But soon, she realized this idea could help bring real change in society. In August, she officially launched this initiative under the slogan “Beti hai to Shrishti hai”—which means “There is life because there is a daughter.” Since then, normal deliveries of girl children have been completely free at her hospital. For cesarean cases, she only charges a small fee and plans to waive those costs in the future too.

Dr. Shipra admits the financial burden is real. “Sometimes I struggle to manage hospital expenses. But when you do something for society, sacrifices are part of the journey,” she said.

Her efforts don’t stop there. Dr. Shipra also takes care of the education of 12 underprivileged girls, bearing their full expenses. These girls come from families who cannot afford school, and Dr. Shipra makes sure they don’t miss out on learning.

She also runs a small food bank for children suffering from malnutrition and distributes food, clothes, and sweets to poor families during festivals.

Whenever a daughter is born in her hospital, she celebrates the occasion with sweets, sharing the joy with everyone around. “People should feel proud to have daughters,” she says.

Dr. Shipra's efforts have earned national recognition. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi heard about her work, he even met her during a visit to Varanasi and encouraged more doctors to take similar steps.

So far, Dr. Shipra has delivered over 100 girl children without charging a fee. In recent months alone, she has provided 14 such free deliveries. While she knows this is just a small step, she believes it is a beginning toward a big change.

To expand her work, Dr. Shipra is trying to connect with pharmaceutical companies to get free medicines for such cases. She also plans to organize awareness camps in rural areas to educate families about the value of girls and the importance of saving the girl child.A Doctor Who Celebrates Daughters: The Inspiring Story of Dr. Shipra Dhar Srivastava

“In our society, female foeticide and gender discrimination are still serious issues. We need to change the mindset, and that can only happen through action,” she says.

Dr. Shipra Dhar Srivastava’s work is more than just medical service—it is a movement for dignity, equality, and hope. Her story is a reminder that one person’s courage and compassion can start a wave of positive change.

Ritu Pansy

    Content Creator