National Girl Child Day(NGCD) is annually observed across India on 24th January to support and provide opportunities to the girls in India. The day aims towards promoting awareness about the rights of the girl child and to increase awareness on the importance of girls’ education, and their health and nutrition.
Background:
i.The Ministry of Women and Child Development(MoWCD) initiated the observance of National Girl Child Day in 2008.
ii.The first ever National Girl Child Day was observed on 24th January 2008.
Note:
The NGCD is observed around the anniversary of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao(BBBP) scheme which was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 22nd January 2015 in Panipat, Haryana to address the decline in Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of girls and women over a life cycle continuum.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar-2022:
On the occasion of the National Girl Child Day, as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a virtual function was organised to recognise the exemplary achievements of children by facilitating Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar(PMRBP)-2022 awardees.
29 children were awarded PMRBP 2022 for their exceptional achievements in Innovation (7), Social Service (4), Scholastic (1), Sports (8), Art & Culture (6) and Bravery (3) categories.
Click here for the list of 2022 winners
The winners of the PMRBP 2022 were awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
Note:
i.The winners of PMRBP 2021 were also felicitated during the event.
Events 2022:
Smriti Zubin, Union Minister of Women and Child Development interacted with the few marginalised identities from across India over an online event ‘Kanya Mahotsav’- Ladkiyan Jahan Khushiyan wahan organised by United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) as part of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav.
Efforts of the Indian Government:
The government of India has launched several initiatives to improve the condition of girls which includes,
- Save the Girl Child.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
- CBSE Udaan Scheme
- Free or subsidized education for girl child
- Reservation for women in colleges and universities
- National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education
