CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AIMING GIRL CHILD
Author: Tanu Mehta, IV year of B.B.A.,LL.B.(Hons.) from The Northcap University
1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a central government scheme in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The scheme was introduced and launched by our honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in Panipat, Haryana on January 22, 2015. The scheme primarily aimed to “save the girl child” from the existing bias and discrimination in society and promote “girl education”.
The scheme was introduced to address the decline of the child-sex ratio and the continuous diminution of girl education in India. The scheme was implemented in 100 districts of India whose CSR is extremely low. This CSR of various districts was analyzed by referring to Census 2011. Later on March 2nd, 2022 the scheme was extended to cover 640 more districts of India. Since the extent of the scheme may cover a wider ambit, therefore the government classified the target audience into three major groups.
The First group consisted of newly married couples, parents, and pregnant women. The Second group consisted of private hospitals, doctors, diagnostic centres, and youth of the country. Lastly, the third group included the remaining people in society, frontline workers, media, and various voluntary organizations.
2. CBSE Udaan Scheme
The Central Board of Secondary Education Udaan Scheme was launched by the Central Board of Secondary Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The primary aim of this scheme was to uplift girls’ education by increasing the enrolment of females in technical institutions like engineering colleges in India. Through the scheme, female students were given the benefit of online as well as offline resources that could benefit them whilst preparing for various engineering entrance examinations. Talking about the implementation of the scheme, around 65 centres were formed in major cities of India. Although the eligibility criteria included the requirement of 8 and 9 CGPA in mathematics and science.
3. Sukanya Samridhi Yojana
Sukanya Samridhi Yojana was a welfare scheme launched by the Government of India in the year 2015. It has been evident in society that the girl child is considered to be a financial burden by their parents. To redress the above existing ideology, the Government of India launched the abovementioned scheme.
The scheme basically works as per the following:
Initially, an investment of Rs. 250 is asked to be made by the girl child-parent, and later multiple of Rs. 150 would suffice. For Example- Rs. 250 is the initial investment, then for the second month Rs. 150, then for the third month Rs.300, Rs. 450 for the fourth month and so on.
The main agenda behind it was that such monthly investments would bring a total saving of 1.5 lakh annually and later in 15 years the amount collected would become 43.5 lakhs. This amount collected would firstly be income tax-free and secondly would primarily focus on the girl child’s education or her marriage.
4. Balika Samridhi Yojana
The Balika Samridhi Yojana was launched by the Government of India to remove the social stigma of considering the birth of a girl child as a financial burden. Under the abovementioned scheme, the parents giving birth to a girl child were provided Rs. 500. The scheme stands applicable till the birth of the second girl child. Providing such financial assistance to the parents of the girl child basically aimed to reduce the ongoing growth of child marriages and to increase the number of female students in primary and secondary schools.
5. National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education
The National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education was incorporated by the Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The scheme primarily targeted disadvantaged groups in society and promoted secondary education in girls. The girls who have passed from VIII from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas irrespective of their caste, and all SC/ST girls who have passed class VIII will receive Rs. 3000 as a fixed deposit in a public sector bank in the name of the girl child. The balance can be withdrawn with interest after the girl child has attained 18 years of age and had passed class X examinations.
6. Saksham Anganwadi and POSHION 2.0
The POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) were restructured into Saksham Anganwadi and POSHION 2.0.
The scheme included sub-schemes such as ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyan, SAG (Scheme for Adolescent Girls) and NCS (National Creche Scheme). The sub-scheme of SAG under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHION 2.0 dealt with the challenging condition of malnutrition of adolescent girls of the age group of 14-18 years.
HARYANA GOVERNMENT SCHEMES FOR GIRL CHILD
1. Ladli Scheme
The Ladli Scheme was launched by the Government of Haryana in collaboration with the Ministry of Child and Women’s development. The scheme primarily targeted breaking the stigma attached to the birth of a girl child. Regarding the implementation of the scheme in the state of Haryana, awareness about the protection of girl child and the importance of girl education was made the primary objective.
The scheme applies if the parents of a girl child belong to Haryana. The amount covered under the scheme is Rs. 5000 per year for 5 years (per family). The amount of Rs.5000 is deposited to Kisan Vikas Pantra (which is opened in the mother’s name) and the same can be withdrawn when the girl attains the age of 18 years. Now, in the case of the second girl child, the amount is immediately given to the parents in two instalments. The purpose behind this is to promote the birth of a girl child and ensure that the education of a girl child goes undisturbed.
2. Aapki Beti Hmari Beti Scheme/ Haryana Kanya Kosh Scheme
Aapki Beti Hmari Beti Scheme is an initiative by the Government of Haryana to address the issue of the brutal killing of the girl child in society and the issue related to the decline of the child sex ratio. The scheme began in the year of 2015. Under the above-mentioned scheme, any girl who is born on or before 22nd January 2015 will be entitled to receive the amount of Rs. 21000 when she attains the age of 18 years. Regarding the second birth of a girl child in the family, the second girl child would be entitled to an amount of Rs. 5000 annually for consecutive five years.