With an aim to combat the problem of declining child sex ratio in the State, Haryana Government on Sunday launched a scheme for girl child ‘Aapki Beti Humari Beti’. The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar at a State-level function on the occasion of International Women’s Day at Panchkula.
‘Aapki Beti Humari Beti’ will be implemented in both rural and urban areas of the State covering first-born girl child of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Below Poverty line (BPl) families and all second girl child born on or after January 22, 2015 of all families.
Under this scheme, the first girl child born on or after January 22, 2015 in SC and BPl families will be eligible to receive Rs21,000. Similarly, all second girl child born on or after January 22, 2015 of all families will get Rs21,000. The families, where twin girls or multiple girls are born, will get Rs21,000 per girl child, the statement said.
Khattar launched the scheme by giving away a cheque of Rs21,000 each to mothers of six female children born on or after January 22. The Chief Minister also launched ‘Haryana Kanya Kosh’ for the welfare and development of girl child and women in the State.
Haryana CM who himself contributed Rs1 lakh to the Haryana Kanya Kosh said that efforts would be made to increase the amount of this Kosh (coffer) to Rs100 crore. He also announced to give Rs51 lakh to this coffer from his discretionary fund.
He said that a special budget provision would be made for this scheme which aims to generate an environment in which the girls are provided with equal opportunities. Apart from Government, anybody could contribute in this coffer for the welfare of girls, he said.
He also announced to increase the amount of Indira Gandhi Mahila Shakti Award from Rs1 lakh to Rs1.5 lakh, Behan Shanno Devi Award from Rs51,000 to Rs1 lakh, life Time Achievement Award from Rs21,000 to Rs51,000 and other women achiever award from Rs5100 to Rs21,000.
Another scheme named multi sectoral nutrition programme, to address the maternal and child nutrition in five districts — Mewat, Fatehabad, Narnaul, Palwal and Kaithal was also launched. Earlier, the Chief Minister honoured the women achievers for their outstanding contribution in different fields.
Nine women were honoured for their outstanding performance in sports which includes Ritu Rani, Rani Rampal and Navjot Kaur of Shahbad, Gitika Jakhar, Krishna Punia of Hisar, Seema Punia of Rohtak, Anisha Sayed of Faridabad and Sakshi Malik of Rohtak.
The CM also honoured four districts — Panipat, Jind, Rohtak and Sonipat for improvement in the sex ratio during the year 2014.