Finance Dept asks Welfare Dept to set aside not more than Rs 5,000 for birth of each girl in the state
Finance Dept asks Welfare Dept to set aside not more than Rs 5,000 for birth of each girl in the state
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In a move that threatens to set back the ambition of the Women and Child Welfare Department to set aside
Rs 10,000 for the wellbeing of every girl child in the state, the Finance Department has raised objections to the former's proposing the same.
As the finances of the state are not exactly in the pink, Finance has asked Welfare to reduce the amount to
Rs 5,000, which in turn would pull down the aggregate given to a girl child on maturity, that is, when she turns 18.
States like Karnataka deposit a sum of R10,000 when a girl is born, while the Delhi government spends about R35,000 in various schemes related to the girl child
Even as the sex ratio of 922 per 100 males in the state, as per the 2002 census, is lower than the average of 933 for the nation, the Finance department is standing firm on its demand, refusing to add to the incentives provided to families for giving birth to females.
Earlier, bothered by the falling female to male sex ratio, Welfare wanted to formulate a scheme of incentives to families where girls are born.
It had examined various options including the schemes offered by other states for the welfare of the girl child.
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For instance, states like Karnataka deposit a sum of Rs 10,000 when a girl is born, while the Delhi government spends about Rs 35,000 in various schemes related to the girl child.
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It finally proposed that the state deposit a sum of Rs 10,000 upon the birth of a girl. But now the proposal faces an uncertain fate.
"Various state governments have implemented various schemes and we were examining all of them.
Some of them deposit the money in mutual funds or gold schemes, while some in fixed deposits schemes, national savings certificates and insurance schemes.
We were about to finalise the scheme to be implemented when the Finance Department raised objections. Now, the matter has been sent for the consideration of the Chief Minister," said a state official.
Women and Child Welfare Minister Varsha Gaikwad said, "The proposal is in the pipeline. We are yet to take a decision on it.
Besides, the matter is before the chief minister and the departments concerned. Only after discussions between all parties concerned will it come before the Cabinet."
Principal Secretary, Planning Department, SK Shrivastava, also in-charge of the Finance Department, said, "I am not aware of this. I will have to check with my colleagues if there is such a proposal."
Until a decision is taken, a sum of Rs 5,000 can be deposited in any of the schemes related to the girl child. When she turns 18, this will amount to Rs 1 lakh.
However, only those girls who are unmarried until 18 years of age and have studied till Std X will be the beneficiaries of the scheme.
Miss Universe to support the cause of the girl child
On her maiden visit to India, Miss Universe, 2010 Ximena Navarrette of Mexico intends to create awareness about need to celebrate the birth of a girl child. "Through my celebrity status, I want to convince people to give the girl child a full-fledged proper education and help her in taking up a career of her choice. A girl child can do a lot of wonderful things and make a difference in every profession," said Navarrette, in New Delhi on Friday.
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