President's visit to bring smiles on faces of girl children

Patna, Jan 13 (UNI) President Pratibha Patil will kick off ''welfare of girls'' scheme here to check atrocities against them, when she arrives here on February 15.

Confirming her two-day maiden visit to the state, Bihar deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi here today said under the proposed scheme, girl children will be issued a Rs 2,000 bond at the time of their birth. The bond will mature when the girls attain 18 years of age and the money would be utilised for their marriage, he said adding that it would provide some sort of succour to the female child born in under-privileged families.

Referring to other schemes for empowering the fairer sex, Mr Modi said the state government will execute 'Astitya', a scheme to combat the growing cases of human trafficking.

''A number of proposals in this regard would be placed before the state assembly for its approval'', he said adding ''Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojna'' would also be implemented in true spirit.

Giving further details about such schemes, Mr Modi said for girls above the age of 18 years, Rs 5,000 would be given for their marriage.

''Students of class IX and X are already getting Rs 2,000 for cycles and 700 for school uniforms,'' he said adding that 1.5 lakh girl students would be benefitted by this scheme during the current year.

UNI RH-KKS LL BDP RS1618