23,726 get benefit of 'Ladli' scheme

Chandigarh, May 10 (UNI) As many as 23,726 beneficiaries have been covered under the incentive based pro-girl child scheme 'Ladli'' in Haryana during the year 2006-07.

Under the scheme, Rs 5000 are given annually upto five years to the parents on the birth of their second daughter.

A spokesman for the Haryana Women and Child Development said a sum of Rs 21 crore had been provided in the budget for the implementation of the scheme during the financial year 2007-08.

He said the amount would be invested in 'Kisan Vikas Patras' in the name of the second daughter through mother or father or guardian and the matured amount of about Rs 86,927 at current rate of interest would be paid after the second daughter attained the age of 18 years.

He said apart from many other initiatives taken by the state government to improve the sex ratio, the implementation of this scheme has also played a vital role in improving the sex ratio in the state.

According to the census 2001, the sex ratio in the age group of 0 to 6 years in the state was 819 females per 1000 males, but as per the data recorded at the time of birth under civil registration scheme, this ratio increased to 857 females per 1000 males in the year 2006.

The state government had introduced this scheme in August, 2005 to combat the problem of female foeticide and arrest the declining sex ratio in the state, he said.

UNI