Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Thursday announced the setting up of ‘Haryana Kanya Kosh’ to provide financial assistance on the birth of the first girl child in a family. The ambit of the ladli Scheme has been widened to extend the benefit of such assistance to the first girl child also. Besides, daughters born in poor and Scheduled Caste families would get the assistance.
Presently, financial assistance under the ladli Scheme is given to only the second girl child. A sum of Rs21,000 would be deposited in the bank on the birth of the girl child. This amount would increase to Rs1lakh when the girl attains the age of 18 years.
Speaking at the launch of the national programme ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ in Panipat, Manohar lal expressed his concern over the literacy rate of women which was 65.4 per cent in Haryana. He said sincere efforts would be made to bring about significant improvement in it. Girls would be provided scholarships on the basis of the merit and capabilities.
Expressing concern over malnutrition among mothers and children, the CM said, “We would review the previous Nutrition Policy and draft a new State Nutrition Mission on the pattern of the National Health Mission.” The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Haryana is 41 per cent and all-out efforts would be made to reduce it. This target could be easily achieved if the region is declared as Empowered Action Group.