The Madhya Pradesh Government is paying constant attention to girls’ education. Girls are being motivated to come out of their houses and attend schools. They are being provided free cycles, uniforms, textbooks etc. As a result of the Government’s positive efforts, there is constant improvement in the level of education in Madhya Pradesh.
Arrangements for free uniforms to girl students have been made. Rs400 per head is being given to purchase 2 sets of uniform to 94 lakh girl students of class I to VIII. On the initiative of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, boys are also being provided 2 sets of free uniform for last 3 years. For purchasing cycle, a sum of Rs2,300 is provided to village girl students who pass class V and have to go to nearby government school to study in class VI.
During initial years of the scheme, in 2009-10 and 2010-11, only girls were provided free cycles. During these years, 2.02 lakh and 2.08 lakh boys and girl students, respectively, benefited from the scheme. As per the wish of the Chief Minister, boys were also included in the scheme from year 2011-12. Thereafter, the scheme benefited 5.08 lakh boys and girls in year 2011-12; 5.07 lakh in 2012-13 and 5.22 lakh boy and girl students got free cycles in year 2013-14. During year 2013-14, as many as 3.30 lakh girls were provided free cycles by State Government, including 37 per cent SC and 17 per cent tribal girl students.
Kasturba Gandhi Girls Schools and girls hostels have been opened to help girl students of small habitats of SC, ST and backward classes to complete middle level education. As many as 49 lakh girls are benefited by the scheme. Wardens and cooks deployed at Kasturba Gandhi Girls Schools and girls hostels are trained in food habit management and housekeeping at the Hotel Management Institute. A sports scheme with UNICEF’s cooperation is being implemented for girls of Kasturba Gandhi Girls Schools and girls hostels.
Free text books are distributed every year to about 96 lakh students of Government schools, registered madarsas and Sanskrit schools in the State. A large number of girls are also getting the benefit of the scheme.
Benefit of the schemes was extended to 18 lakh girl and boy students in year 2009-10; 19.23 lakh in 2010-11; 20.82 lakh in 2011-12; 23 lakh 10,000 in year 2012-13 and 24.17 lakh students in year 2013-14. Apart from boys, girl students of class VI to VIII are also being provided scholarships. Arrangements have been made to give scholarship to regular girl students of class XI and XII who are the only issue of their parents and have secured over 60 per cent marks in class X. It is being paid under Samagra Scholarship Scheme.