State plans scheme to help the girl child…..Sandeep Ashar
Mumbai:The state government is formulating a scheme for cash incentives to citizens to combat female infanticide.Under the scheme,planned by the state ministry of women and child development,families with girl children will be given incentives on fulfilling certain conditions,including school enrollment and delay in marriage of the child till she turns 18.
The child sex ratio has been declining in the state.From 934 girls per 1,000 boys in 1991,the ratio dropped to 922 in 2001 as per census reports.Senior department officials said the ratio was skewed even for developed parts of the state like Mumbai and Pune.
According to the officials,modern sex selection technology,coupled with a traditional preference for boys,was the main reason for the worrying ities are being worked out,department officials revealed the basic concept.On the birth of a girl child,a fixed deposit account will be opened in her name in a bank.The plan is to deposit Rs 5,000 per girl child in the account.To be able to encash the amount,the family will have to ensure the girl has at least completed her SSC and her marriage has not been arranged before she turns 18.
Minister for women and child development Varsha Gaikwad,however,said the scheme was in a nascent stage of planning.It is yet to be approved by the finance department, she said.
Sources said the scheme will initially be applicable for families living below the poverty line.The state is keen to extend it to others too.However,a scheme for BPL families alone is likely to cost the state exchequer Rs 100 crore.Haryana,Punjab,UP and other states have rolled out similar incentive schemes.