National Girl Child Day is observed annually on January 24 to raise awareness about the rights of the girl child and importance of their education, health and nutrition. The year 2021 marks 13th National Girl Child Day. The initiative was started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development(MoWCD)in 2008.
Objective
- To provide all support and opportunities to the girl child in India.
- To make people aware about issues faced by them like inequalities, discrimination, exploitation.
National Girl Child Week is being celebrated from January 21 to 26, 2021.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
On this occasion, the Govt of India organises awareness campaigns under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao-BBBP (Save the girl child, Educate the girl child) scheme.
SRB in India Improved by 16 Points: HMIS data
i.As per the Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) data, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 422 of the 640 districts covered under BBBP scheme has improved in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) from 2014-2015 to 2018-2019.
ii.The SRB in India has improved by 16 points from 918 (2014-15) to 934 (2019-20).
iii.In the last 6 years, the gross Enrolment Ratio of girls in secondary level schools has improved from 77.45 to 81.32.
Note– HMIS is a digital initiative under National Health Mission(NHM).
Scheme Launched by State Government under BBBP Scheme
Madhya Pradesh: ‘PANKHAbhiyan’
On the occasion, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a scheme namely, ‘PANKH(Protection Awareness Nutrition Knowledge Health) Abhiyan’ under the BBBP scheme to support the girl child’s empowerment and their growth.
The scheme will be continued for a year.
Rajasthan: ‘Ek Paudha Suposhit Beti Ke Naam’:
Launch
Rajasthan Govt has initiated a new scheme called Ek Paudha Suposhit Beti Ke Naam or A plant on the name of well nourished daughter’ under BBBP scheme.
Aim
- This scheme aims to create awareness among people about the importance of nourishment of pregnant women and children.
- It also intends to motivate families to accept girl children and create awareness among people about healthy food habits and environment protection.
Nutritional plant & Garden
Under this scheme, on birth of a girl child, a drumstick plant, a nutritional plant will be given by the district administration to the family members of the girl child.
A nutrition garden will be developed at the block and panchayat level under this scheme.
Punjab:
Punjab government has announced January 2021 to be the “month of the girl child” and launched Dheeiyan Di Lohri
What is the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme?
i.Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the BBBP scheme on January 22, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana to celebrate girl child and enable her education
ii.It is the effort of the MoWCD, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare(MoHFW) and
Ministry of Education-MoE (formerly Ministry of Human Resource Development(MoHRD).
iii.It aims address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR)and related issues of women empowerment over a life-cycle continuum.
Other Initiatives of State Govt
Teenager Srishti Goswami Becomes Uttarakhand CM for one day
On the National Girl Child Day, Teenager Srishti Goswami took charge as Uttarakhand Chief Minister(CM) for one day.
She was appointed by Uttarakhand Child Protection Commission.
Key Initiatives & Programmes Launched By Indian Govt for Girls
The following are the key initiatives and programmes launched by Govt of India to empower girls.
i.National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 introduced ‘Gender Inclusion Fund’ for development of girl child.
ii.The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology
has launched ‘Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN)’ Scheme to promote women in science.
iii.Samagra Shiksha – an Integrated Scheme for School Education (ISSE) is being implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy, MoE. Under this many interventions have been targeted for education of girls.
Outcome of Women in Key scheme
The percentage of female apprentices in the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has increased from 4% in August, 2016 to 12% in December, 2020.
- The Government of India launched NAPS on 19th August 2016 to promote apprenticeship.
