National Girl Child Day is celebrated on January 24th in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of late Indian Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi was India's first and the world's only female Prime Minister till date. She was a powerful leader who worked towards the empowerment of women and children in India.
The day was chosen to commemorate her birth anniversary as a tribute to her contributions towards the welfare of girl children and women in India. The day is seen as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the potential and achievements of girl children in the country and to create awareness about the challenges and discrimination they face.
By celebrating National Girl Child Day on January 24th, the government of India hopes to inspire and empower more girls to follow in the footsteps of Indira Gandhi and become leaders in their own right. It also serves as a reminder to society to work towards creating a more equal and just world for girls and women.
The main reason for observing National Girl Child Day is to highlight the inequalities and discrimination faced by girls in India. Despite the progress made in recent years, girls in India continue to face significant obstacles in areas such as education, health, and protection from violence. According to a report by UNICEF, the child sex ratio in India is skewed in favor of boys, with only 918 girls for every 1,000 boys. This is due to a number of factors, including discrimination against girls in terms of access to food, healthcare, and education.
In order to address these issues, the Indian government has implemented a number of schemes and programs aimed at promoting the rights and welfare of girl children. Some of the major schemes include:
Girl Child Major Schemes in India
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save Girl Child, Educate Girl Child) - This scheme was launched in 2015 by the Government of India to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio and to promote the education of girl children. The scheme focuses on creating awareness and improving the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls.
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (Girl Child Prosperity Scheme) - This is a small deposit scheme launched in 2015 aimed at promoting the education and marriage of girl children from economically weaker sections of society. The scheme provides for a tax-free interest on deposits made in the account and also provides for a withdrawal of funds for the education and marriage of the girl child.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) - This scheme was launched in 2017 to provide monetary benefits to pregnant and lactating women. The scheme provides for a cash incentive of Rs. 5,000 to be given to the mother for the first living child in order to meet the expenses related to the delivery of the child and to improve the health and nutrition of both the mother and child.
- National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan) - This scheme was launched in 2018 to address the issue of malnutrition among children, especially girls. The scheme aims to reduce stunting, undernutrition, and low birth weight in children and also provides for a range of interventions to improve the health and nutrition of girls.
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) - This scheme was launched in 2004 to provide education to girls from disadvantaged and minority communities. The scheme provides for the setting up of residential schools for girls in areas with low female literacy rates.
In addition to these schemes, the Indian government has also taken steps to address the issue of violence against girls. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 was enacted to provide for the protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation. The government has also launched the One Stop Centre (OSC) scheme to provide support and assistance to women and girls who are victims of violence.
In conclusion, National Girl Child Day is an important day in India as it raises awareness about the inequalities and discrimination faced by girl children in India. The Indian government has implemented a number of schemes and programs aimed at promoting the rights and welfare of girl children, including education, health, and protection from violence. However, there is still a long way to go in ensuring that every girl child in India is able to live a life of dignity and equality.