Social Security Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani said that in order to improve the sex ratio of girl child in Punjab the especially conceived Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Scheme has not only proved to be a boon to the girls in the state but also helped people in changing their mind set for opting a male child instead of female. As many as 26,875 beneficiaries have been covered under this scheme and an amount of Rs. 53.75 crore disbursed under this scheme.Expressing concern over the decline in male-female sex ratio, the Minister said that schemes like Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Scheme were conceived in the state with a sole purpose to help the girl child. The alarming problem of the declining male-female sex ratio has also been improved to a large extent, said Mr. Jayani.
Giving details about the scheme, Jayani said that Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Scheme was taken as a mission to improve the socio-academic status of the girls belonging to the poor families in the state. All the anganwari centres of the state were equipped with all the required information on that scheme. Under this scheme the focus was laid to educate the girl child so that she could be rightfully empowered. He has also directed the officers of the department to ensure that only the genuine beneficiaries were covered and the benefit should reach the deserving. He also said that it was mandatory for the parents to apply for the benefit within two years of the birth of the girl child. Girls who were born after January 1, 2011 have been covered under this scheme. They have been given Rs. 61,000 in a phased manner till she attains the age of 18 years.
The Minister also said that the girl children found abandoned or living in the orphanages/ children homes were also being covered under this scheme. Referring to the financial status of the parents of the girl child, the Minister said that the poor families with annual income of Rs. 30,000 were eligible to apply provided they have a Blue Card determining their financial status. Making it clearer, he said that if the girl leaves her education at any point of time, she would not be given the benefit of Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Scheme.
Jayani further said that the Punjab government gives a sum of Rs. 2100 to the parents at the time of the birth of the girl child and another Rs. 2100 after the vaccination. The Minister further said that to ensure the admission and proper rearing of a girl child in the regular school, Rs. 2100 again given at the age of 6 years and the same amount of Rs. 2100 would be provided at the time of admission in 9th class at an age of 14. He said that Punjab was being provided Rs. 31000 to girl students at the age of 18 while admitting in class 12. The Minister also informed that Punjab was being provided a monthly stipend of Rs. 100 from class I to VI, a total Rs. 7200 for each student while the students studying between class 7th and 12th were getting Rs. 200 per month, a total Rs. 14400.