The birth of a daughter is no longer taken as a burden in Madhya Pradesh, in fact the the birth of a daughter is celebrated joyfully. The state’s Ladli Laxmi Yojana has been the mainstay in changing this concept. Ladli Laxmi Yojana was implemented by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on April 1, 2007, to fulfill the responsibility of being a real guardian from the birth of the girl child to her marriage.
Chouhan’s thinking towards daughters has been one of sensitivity right from the beginning. With this thinking, he implemented this scheme mainly to keep the foundation stone of a good future for girls taking birth in the state, to improve the sex ratio, improving the educational and health status of the girl child and develop positive thinking among the people towards the girl child. A decade after the success of the scheme, the Ladli Laxmi Act 2018 was also made effective in the state to give it a legal form.
Today more than 42 lakh girls are included in the Ladli Laxmi Yojana in the state. The successful implementation of the scheme and positive results is an example for the entire country. Many states have not only appreciated this scheme of Madhya Pradesh but have also implemented it in their own state.
The intention with which the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan started the scheme has been actually felt and experienced by the beneficiary families of the state. Today there are more than 39 lakh families in the state, in whose homes all the responsibilities of the girl child are being fulfilled by the state government. Ladli Laxmi Yojana has also sidelined the orthodox traditions adopted towards daughters. Effective implementation of the scheme has also improved the sex ratio in many districts of the state, the biggest example of which has been seen in Bhind district. In the year 2012, the sex ratio in Madhya Pradesh was 927 females per 1000 males, which has increased to 956 today.
In order to make the scheme more effective and fruitful, a new form is being given to the scheme by the Chief Minister. Now many provisions are being made to connect Ladli Laxmis with education and employment, to make them strong, capable, skillful and self-dependent. The government is also taking initiatives to connect daughters with higher education, vocational education, employment and self-employment. Now a portal for class wise tracking will be developed for the continuity of education of all the girl students included in the scheme. Ladli Laxmis will be given necessary guidance and encouragement for higher education as well as technical and vocational education.
The government is also going to make arrangements fo counseling and coaching for competitive examinations, and provide necessary training and skill upgradation opportunities for linking with employment in startups, small-medium industries and private sector.
More than 42 lakh girls are registered under Ladli Laxmi Yojana in the state. In order to make the future bright of the Ladli Laxmis, the beneficiary girl child of the scheme is given a scholarship of Rs 2,000 on admission in Class VI, Rs 4,000 on admission in Class IX, Rs 6,000 on admission in Class XI and Rs 6,000 on admission in Class XII. Also, there is a system of payment of Rs one lakh for the girl child to appear in the XII examination, not marry till the age of 18 and on completion of 21 years.
Recently, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has also decided to provide an amount of Rs 25,000 to the girls registered under the scheme as an incentive for further education or vocational training after completing their studies up to Class XII.
The scheme is also being linked with health and nutrition for the all-round development of the girl child. Provision of other necessary health check-ups including immunization of the beneficiary girl child, anemia and availability of nutritious food is also being ensured.
The habit of saving is also being inculcated in Ladli Laxmi’s parents by encouraging them to invest in schemes like Sukanya Samriddhi for the welfare of the girl child.
Award for Better Sex Ratio
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has also planned to reward Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies for ensuring better sex ratio in the state.
Important to increase the self-confidence of the girl child
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan believes that Ladli Laxmi Yojna should not be confined only to being a scheme that provides financial assistance. It is also necessary to give a positive environment and constant encouragement to the girl child. Girls have to be made to feel that they are of special importance to their parents and society. They have to believe that they can achieve new dimensions and achievements in life.
Ladli Laxmis visit Wagah border
On May 2, 178 Ladli Laxmi girls were taken on an international border Wagah-Husainiwala (Punjab) border tour under the ‘Maa Tujhe Pranam’ scheme for the first time, which was started again in the state. Tricolor and mementoes have also been sent from Madhya Pradesh side through Ladli Laxmi girls for the brave soldiers posted on Wagah border.