Dhan Laxmi - Govt's novel initiative for girl child

The Central government launched "Dhan Laxmi" (a Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, CCTS) scheme for girl child on Monday taking into account the falling sex ratio and with a view to encourage people to stop female foeticide.

The new scheme of Dhan Laxmi is a memorable gift to girl child that proclaimed few days ago of Women’s day that to be celebrated on March 08.

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The theme of the weeklong function will be celebrated under the theme of ' Survival to Success: Celebrate her life.'

The scheme Dhan Laxmi is termed as a CCTS because a significant amount will be provided to the family of girl child, but after fulfilling certain conditions such as birth registration, immunization, school enrolment, and delay marriage of the girl child till the attainment of 18 years of age.

Under the Dhan Laxmi scheme an insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh would be provided for the girl child at her birth and in all, cash package of around Rs 2 lakh will be provided to the girl’s family, preferably to the mother.

Week long celebration

Multiple activities will be carried out throughout the week. Hoisting of the Ananya Flag specially designed on women's empowerment, conference on prevention of trafficking, workshop on prevention of female foeticide, presentation of Stree Shakti Puraskaar, free health check-ups and nutrition exhibition are among other activities.

Objective of scheme

While launching the scheme, the Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhary highlighted the objective of the scheme, which is to provide financial incentives for families to encourage them for better upbringing of girl child and to educate her.

The scheme would also alter the pre-set mind of the family towards the girl, who from now would look upon the girl as an asset rather than a liability since her birth would facilitated the family with cash inflow, said Renuka Chowdhary.

Applicable site

Initially the scheme will be launched in 11 educationally backward regions in 7 States. An outlay of Rs. 10 crores is proposed for 2008-09 benefiting 101970 girl children.

Awareness campaign for women

Besides benefiting girl child a public awareness campaign for highlighting women issues through Railway tickets was also launched.

Five crore tickets will be imprinted initially with social messages to check female foeticide, child marriage, dowry, domestic violence, trafficking and harassment.

The ticket chose for the campaign launched through the ticket owing to its richness to the grassroots level.

Skill upgradation programme

It was proposed that under the skill upgradation programme about 100 poor women will be provided training in different trades and their employment will be facilitated.

Women will also be provided training in beauty culture and relate fields.

Other multi-schemes for women

Another grant-in-aid scheme in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC) will cover up working women’s hostel scheme, Swadhar, Ujjawala, short stay homes, crèche and child welfare.

Swadhar is a scheme of government of India for women living in difficult circumstances through a home based holistic and integrated approach.

Ujjawala is a comprehensive scheme was launched last year for prevention of trafficking, rescue and rehabilitation of victim women and children in the country.

Highlights of women’s day

On 8th March, the International Women's Day special announcement will be made in flights, Rajdhani, Shatabadi and Metro trains and on telecommunication network.