Haryana govt to give awards for improving sex ratio

Chandigarh, Sep 9 (UNI) The Haryana Government has instituted three awards of Rs five lakh, Rs three lakh and Rs two lakh for those districts that show an improvement in the sex-ratio in the state.

While giving this information, here today Health Minister Kartar Devi said that with a view to combat the problem of female foeticide and arrest the declining ratio in the state, an incentive based scheme, Ladli had been launched by the government under which a sum of Rs five thousand per year was being given to a family on the birth of a second daughter. The family would receive this amount upto five years from the date of birth.

The Minister said that as many as 38,895 beneficiaries had been benefited under the scheme so far and a sum of Rs 19.53 crore had been disbursed. She made it clear that if the parents were receiving benefit under any other scheme even then they would be entitled to get the benefit under this scheme.

She said that with a view to encourage proper care of children especially the girl child, the best mother award had been instituted in the state. Under this, the best mothers are given prizes ranging between Rs 200 to Rs 1000 at circle and block levels.

The Minister said with a view to encourage education among girls residing in rural areas, a new scheme had been launched under which three girls from each block would be given an award of Rs 2000, Rs 1500 and Rs 1000 respectively who secure first, second and third positions respectively in the matriculation examination conducted by Haryana Board of School Education.

She said that the government had launched a number of ambitious schemes for the overall development and empowerment of the girls and the women . She urged the people to help in arresting the declining sex-ratio.

UNI