Why Is National Girl Child Day Celebrated In India?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday saluted the indomitable spirit and accomplishments of the Girl Child on National Girl Child Day.

On X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister wrote, "On National Girl Child Day, we salute the indomitable spirit and accomplishments of the Girl Child. We also recognise the rich potential of every girl child in all sectors. They are change-makers who make our nation and society better. Over the last decade, our government has been making many efforts to build a nation where every girl child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive."

What Is It Celebrated?

National Girl Child Day is observed annually on January 24. The day was first initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

It is dedicated to providing support and opportunities for girls in India. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about the rights of the girl child and emphasize the importance of their education, health, and nutrition. The day also strives to enhance the societal position of girls, contributing to an improved quality of life.

The National Girl Child Day also aims to address gender discrimination, which poses a significant challenge for girls and women.

Another objective of this day is to create awareness about the rights of girls and offer equal opportunities. It aims to transform societal attitudes towards girls, reduce female feticide, and educate people about the inequalities faced by girl children, ultimately fostering respect and value for them. The overarching objective is to bring about a positive shift in perspective, contributing to a society that is more inclusive and supportive of the girl child.

Since the Modi government came to power in 2014, it has taken several initiatives to improve the conditions of girls. They are: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Save the Girl Child, CBSE Udaan Scheme, Free or subsidized education for girl child, Reservation for women in colleges and universities and National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education.

This year, the Ministry of Women and Child has requested all states and union territories to conduct a 5-day special campaign specially designed for public engagement up to the grass root level.

"The 5-day special campaign incorporates novel ideas such as special Gram Sabha/ Mahila Sabha on CSR, oath-taking ceremonies/signature ceremonies, affixing BBBP stickers with messages on every visited house/public building/Panchayat office during door-to-door programs. Community sensitization programs such as workshops on menstrual hygiene are being held with the distribution of hygiene kits. Special emphasis is being placed on Plantation drives which denotes the importance of a Girl child.

It also involves school going children through Sports activities involving NYKS Volunteers in schools, programs with both government and private schools focusing on the value of the girl child, and competitions like posters/slogan-writing/drawing/wall painting/ science fairs and exhibitions in schools. Acknowledging and celebrating local champions at the district in the fields of education, sports, social welfare, and community mobilization are also made part of this campaign," a statement from the ministry said.