Shimla: In three years, female sex ratio had improved from 904 in 2008 to 922 per thousand males in the latest evaluation, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal disclosed at a public gathering organized to mark the governments ‘Beti Hai Anmol’ program at Solan today.
The government was striving to bring about stability in the skewed sex ratio; he said adding that results had begun to show.
Seeking public support for checking female feticide, he said, “anyone giving information about female feticide or prenatal sex determination would be suitable rewarded and the identity of the informer would be kept secret.â€
‘Beti Hai Anmol’ was an ambitious program under which after birth Rs 5100 was deposited in the name of two girl babies of BPL families with banks. Other than girl education being free in the state, BPL girl children were also being given scholarships ranging from Rs 300 in first class to Rs 1500 at plus two level, said the chief minister.
Talking about other schemes targeted at the girl child, Dhumal said that the Indira Balika Suraksha Yojna did provide financial incentive of Rs 25,000 to parents adopting permanent family planning modes after birth of a girl child. Besides that financial incentive of Rs 10,000 are being given to each girl of the parents who adopt permanent family planning after the birth of two girl children.
The Kishori Shakti Yojna aimed at skill up-gradation of girls aged 11 to 18 years and under Mukhya Mantri Kanyadaan Yojna, marriage grant of Rs 11,000 was being disbursed to BPL families to marry off their daughters.
The Mata Shabri Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojna, to be launched in the next financial year, would provide for 50 percent subsidy to SC women of BPL families for purchase of LPG Gas connections, he announced.
The government was committed to women empowerment and though a provision of 50 percent reservation had been made for women in panchayati raj bodies, the results turned in showed that 57 % women had been elected in the recent elections, he said.
On the occasion the chief minister also administered a pledge to the audiences to volunteer their services for checkong prenatal tests, female foeticides and bring all such cases to the notice of the authorities.
Other who addressed the gathering included health minister Rajiv Bindal and Virender Kashyap MP.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
Dhumal Ji,
You be the first CM to declare 50% reservation for WOMEN MLA’s in Himachal, then we would believe what is mentioned above !