‘Ladli Beti’ a pioneering scheme to improve child sex ratio: Nirmal Singh

JAMMU — Stressing on bringing about a change in the social perception towards female children, the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh today said that coordinated and convergent efforts are needed for improving the child sex ratio and ensuring survival and empowerment of the girl child.

The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at a function organized to generate awareness under the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” programme at Government College for Women Parade, Jammu here today.

Dr. Nirmal Singh said that the Centre and state governments are paying focused attention to checking the alarming child sex ratio in the state and in this regard, the State government has launched a special social assistance scheme ‘Ladli Beti’ in six selected districts of Jammu and Kashmir which were exhibiting low and declining child sex ratio.

Under this scheme, the government will contribute Rs. 1000 per month towards the birth of every girl child with effect from April 1st, 2015 for the next 14 years, and on reaching 21 years of age, the girl would receive a sum of Rs. 6.5 lakh. In this scheme, a girl child born to parents with annual income from all sources less than Rs. 75,000 per annum shall be eligible for the benefits.

The Deputy Chief Minister stressed that it is vital that we all work in unison to bring about a change and make society more accepting of a female child. Stressing on re-establishing our beliefs in our cultural ethos, the Deputy Chief Minister said that our family system needs to be strengthened for making perceptible positive changes in society.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisaged a nation where the girl child is protected and is not discriminated against and where women are empowered. He called for strengthening these initiatives and said that we will work in unanimity to fulfilling this dream.

Dr. Nirmal Singh also asked for sensitizing society about the alarming decline in the sex ratio, adding that such programmes must be implemented on a mission mode. He exhorted that girls have created a niche for themselves in every field and it is important that they achieve success with confidence and courage.