National Girl Child Day 2025- January 24

National Girl Child Day (NGCD) is annually observed across India on 24th January to promote awareness about the rights of a girl child and to promote the importance of their education, health, and nutrition.The day addresses issues like child marriage, discrimination and other challenges faced by girls in Indian society.

• 24th January 2025 marks the observance of 18th NGCD.
• The theme of the NGCD 2025 is “Empowering the Future of India”.

Background:

i.NGCD was established in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).

ii.The first ever NGCD was observed on 24th January 2008.

Initiatives for Girl Child Development

1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP):
   Launched in 2015 to address declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), prevent gender-biased elimination, and promote survival, protection, and education of girls. Integrated with Mission Shakti for 2021–2026.
2. UDAAN:
   Launched by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 2014 under the guidance of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to improve girl students’ enrollment in engineering institutions by bridging the gap between school education and entrance exams.
3. Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG):
   Introduced in 2010 for girls aged 11–14 to improve nutrition, address gender issues, and support overall development.
4. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY):
    A small savings scheme launched in 2015 for girls under BBBP, offering an 8.2% interest rate for future financial needs.
5. Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS):Launched in 2011 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to promote menstrual hygiene among rural girls aged 10–19.
6. POSHAN Abhiyaan (erstwhile National Nutrition Mission): Launched in March 2018 to improve the nutritional status of children (0–6 years), adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

Initiatives to empower and protect the girl child:

• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, aims to eliminate child marriage.
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, addresses child abuse, with updated rules in 2020 to enhance its implementation.
• The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, ensures the care and protection of children in need.
• Mission Vatsalya launched in 2021 focuses on child development and protection, with services like the Child Helpline and the Track Child Portal to assist missing children.
• Track Child Portal (2012): This portal helps match missing children reported at police stations with found children residing in Child Care Institutions (CCIs).
• PM CARES for Children Scheme: Launched in 2021,supports children orphaned by COVID-19, offering financial, educational, and health assistance.
• NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences) and E-SAMPARK (System for Accessing, Managing, and Promoting Awareness & Reach of Key Services): Provide mental health support and medical care to affected children.

Sex Selection and Abortion:

• PNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques)Act, 1994 (amended in 2002) prohibits sex selection and misuse of prenatal diagnostic techniques.
• MTP Act (Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act): Allows abortion of fetuses with risks of severe physical or mental disabilities but prohibits sex-based selection, even for genetic diseases.