Minister for Social Welfare, Forest, Ecology and Environment Bali Bhagat and Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Asiea Naqash launched the ambitious Ladli Beti scheme , at Kathua here today . MLA Bani Jeevan Lal was also present on the occasion.They also launched the insurance-based scheme – AASRA that aims at providing security to low-income groups in the event of death or disability.Highlighting the importance of these schemes, Mr. Bali said that both the schemes envisage extending security cover to the poor beneficiaries and to promote the girl child in view of the declining sex ratio in 8 districts of the State.He said that the scheme ensures complete security cover for the girls born on or after 1st of April, 2015 and Government will ensure depositing Rs 1000 in bank account of the girl child till she attains 14 years of age and at attaining the age of 21 years, the accumulated amount approximately Rs. 6.50 lakh will be disbursed to the beneficiary for the purpose of marriage or undertaking any venture as per her wish.
Mr Bali said the scheme has been launched to bring positive disposition towards the birth of girl child in the society. He stressed the need to provide economic security and quality education to the girls so that they become equal partners in the growth of the nation .The minister said that female feticide is an heinous crime and the government is taking concrete steps to curb this social evil. There are so many reasons for adverse sex ratio but poverty and illiteracy are two main reasons which should be taken care of ,stressed the Minister .While speaking on Aasra scheme the minister said that the scheme is a social assistance scheme aimed at insuring low-income group families having annual income less than Rs.75000.He further said that the CDPO will work as a nodal officer for implementing these schemes and the Anganwadi workers should work diligently for creating awareness about these programmes among the masses so that beneficiaries can avail the benefits under these schemes.While highlighting the social assistance scheme SMAS(State Marriage Assistance Scheme) the Minister said that under this scheme the government has already identified 375000 girls and the list of beneficiaries are with social welfare department and the office of Deputy commissioner of every district.
Speaking about ‘Hunnar’ , the minister informed that it is a skill development scheme for poor girls and this proposed scheme will bring all schemes launched by different departments under one umbrella which have training and skill development component. The scheme will be operational in all districts across the State and Social Welfare Department will be the nodal department for implementation of the scheme, said the minister.Minister of state for Health and Social Welfare ,Asiea Naqash , while speaking on the occasion informed that the motive of launching Ladli Beti scheme in Kathua district is to check the alarming decline in sex ratio and said that this scheme will help to change social perception about girl child and improve the living conditions of the girl child . She also said that Ladli Beti scheme will become a bench mark in providing dignified status to the girl child in the society.
She further informed that Aanganwadi workers have an imperative role to play in highlighting various social welfare schemes of the government and assured that the government will take necessary steps to redress their issues.MLA Bani , Jeevan Lal , thanked the minister for launching these schemes and said that generating awareness about these schemes is necessary to give maximum benefit to the beneficiaries .Speaking on this occasion State Mission Director , ICDS , Hashmat Ali highlighted the benefits of these schemes and announced that Kathua is the eight district of the state where Ladli Beti scheme has been launched. He informed that 555 girls have been registered under Ladli Beti scheme and 1600 registration have been done under Aasra scheme.
In this launching function certificates of registration under these schemes were distributed among the beneficiaries and an impressive cultural programme was organized by the Information Department in collaboration with District Social welfare Department.DDC Kathua , Ramesh Kumar , District Programme officer ICDS ,Distt. Social welfare officer , CDPOs , Anganwadi workers ,anganwadi helpers and beneficiaries and locals in large number were present on the occasion.