Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday launched a scheme for girl child - 'Aapki Beti Humari Beti' - with an aim to combat the problem of declining child sex ratio in the state.
The scheme was announced at a state-level function on the occasion of International Women's Day at Panchkula, according to an official statement.
'Aapki Beti Humari Beti' will be implemented in both rural and urban areas of the state covering first-born girl child of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and all second girl child born on or after January 22, 2015 of all families, it said.
Under this scheme, the first girl child born on or after January 22, 2015, in SC and BPL families will be eligible to receive Rs 21,000.
Similarly, all second girl child born on or after January 22, 2015 of all families will get Rs 21,000.
Families, where twin girls or multiple girls are born, will get Rs 21,000 per girl child, the statement said.
Khattar launched the scheme by giving away a cheque of Rs 21,000 each to mothers of six female children born on or after January 22.
Khattar also launched 'Haryana Kanya Kosh' for the welfare and development of girl child and women in the state.
Haryana CM who himself contributed Rs 1 lakh to the Haryana Kanya Kosh said that efforts would be made to increase the amount of this Kosh (coffer) to Rs 100 crore.
He also announced to give Rs 51 lakh to this coffer from his discretionary fund.
He said that a special budget provision would be made for this scheme which aims to generate an environment in which the girls are provided with equal opportunities.
Apart from government, anybody could contribute in this coffer for the welfare of girls, he said.
He also announced to increase the amount of Indira Gandhi Mahila Shakti Award from Rs one lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh, Behan Shanno Devi Award from Rs 51,000 to Rs one lakh, Life Time Achievement Award from Rs 21,000 to Rs 51,000 and other women achiever award from Rs 5100 to Rs 21,000.
Haryana CM also launched a Multi Sectoral Nutrition Programme, to address the maternal and child nutrition in five districts - Mewat, Fatehabad, Narnaul, Palwal and Kaithal.
Earlier, the Chief Minister honoured the women achievers for their outstanding contribution in different fields.
Nine women were honoured for their outstanding performance in sports which includes Ritu Rani, Rani Rampal and Navjot Kaur of Shahbad, Gitika Jakhar, Krishna Punia of Hisar, Seema Punia of Rohtak, Anisha Sayed of Faridabad and Sakshi Malik of Rohtak.
Meanwhile, Khattar honoured four districts - Panipat, Jind, Rohtak and Sonipat - for improvement in their sex ratio during the year 2014 at the function.
Panipat bagged first prize of Rs four lakh whereas Jind, Rohtak and Sonipat districts bagged second, third and fourth prizes of Rs two lakh each respectively.
Deputy Commissioner, Panipat Samir Pal Saro, Deputy Commissioner Jind Ajit Balaji Joshi, Deputy Commissioner, Rohtak Shekhar Vidhyarthi and Deputy Commissioner Sonipat Rajiv Rattan received the award from the Chief Minister.
While district Panipat registered sex ratio of 892 girls per 1000 boys in the year 2014 as compared to 851 in the year 2013.
Similarly, Jind registered sex ratio of 891 as compared to 859, district Rohtak 879 as compared to 847 and district Sonipat 847 as compared to 824 in 2013.
