Minister for Industries & Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga today said that the Government is committed to provide social security to the girl child including free of cost quality education and financial support through various central and state sponsored schemes.Minister stated this while addressing an awareness programme on ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme organized by Social Welfare Department here today at CFC Vijaypur. A large number of locals attended the awareness camp.On the occasion, the Minister also gave away sanction orders for financial assistance under various schemes to be directly transferred to the account of the beneficiaries. The assistance has been provided to the beneficiaries under State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS), Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) and welfare schemes for widows and physically challenged persons. Under SMAS, 104 poor girls were provided assistance of Rs 40 lakh, while 323 old age people, 82 widows and 28 handicap people were granted pension of Rs one thousand per month provided through DBT.
The Minister exhorted upon government functionaries and civil society to work for making women an equal and integral part of the development journey. “Our govt is committed to bring a positive change in the lives of women through various schemes and initiatives”, he added.Minister asserted that centre and state governments are paying focused attention on checking the decline of gender ratio in the state. He asked for sensitizing the society about the alarming trend adding that such programmes must be implemented on a mission mode. Highlighting many female oriented social welfare schemes, especially Laadli Beti, the Minister said that under this scheme the government has transferred Rs 73 crore directly to the account of beneficiaries till date. The Minister called for launching a massive awareness campaign against the female feticide and improving the sex ratio in the State. He said Central and State Governments have laid main thrust on empowerment of women to enable them to lead in every field and contribute equally in the development of the nation. Also present on the occasion were Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Sheetal Nanda, District Social Welfare Officer Mushtaq Ahmed Chowdhary, district officers of various departments.