ABDUL WAHAB KHAN|NT
PANAJI: While the number of beneficiaries under the schemes meant for saving girl child has been increasing exceptionally since 2011, ironically the child sex ratio is declining in the state.
And, so, it is the time the government channelised its efforts in improving the child sex ratio.
In order to reverse the falling child sex ratio (CSR) in the state, the government has launched special schemes for providing financial incentives to the girl child at different stages of lifecycle.
There are Mamta and Laadli Laxmi schemes, and the amount varies from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh as the girl reaches 18 years of age.
These incentive-based schemes aim at improving the value of the girl child on the premise that financial benefits would trigger behavioral changes among parents and communities.
The responses to these schemes have increased manifold since inception.
Since inception in 2011 till March-end this year, 28,204 mothers have been provided financial assistance under the Mamta Scheme, and around 48,603 girls were enrolled under Laadli Laxmi Scheme.
Now, the government has to examine the extent to which financial incentive schemes for care, protection and education of the girl child has contributed towards improving the child sex ratio and enhancing the value of daughters within a family.
According to the women and child development records, in the last six years, the Mamta Scheme has seen three time increase in beneficiaries from 2918 beneficiaries in 2011 to 7671 till March-end this year. The large number of applications for the scheme started pouring in between 2013 and 2016, with over 9,000 mothers, who delivered girl child got the benefit under the scheme.
The Mamta Scheme, run by the department of women and child development, was formulated by the government in 2011, whereby an incentive of Rs 5,000 was given to the mother for a maximum of two deliveries so that the sex ratio is maintained and the post-delivery nutritional requirements of the mother and child are taken care of.
Subsequently, the amount was enhanced to Rs 25,000 from September 2015, and disbursed in five installments till the girl child completes her graduation. The Laadli Laxmi Scheme was launched on July 19, 2012 as one of the flagship programmes of the state government.
It aims to erase the general perception that birth of a girl in the family is a burden on her parents/guardian during her marriage.
Every girl between 18 and 40 years of age in the state gets the benefit of Rs 1 lakh, irrespective of caste, creed, religion and even financial status of the parents of the girl.
The beneficiaries under the Laadli Laxmi Scheme have increased five times, with around 48,603 girls benefiting.
In 2012, around 3,508 beneficiaries received Rs 1 lakh. The number of Laadli Laxmi beneficiaries grew in the subsequent years.
The child sex ratio, at birth, in the state has plummeted from 953 girls per 1000 boys in 2014 to 916 girls as against 1,000 boys, recorded upto September last year.
The ratio was slightly better in the year 2015, and was at 932. This reflects the persisting gender discrimination despite advancements in various spheres.
Deep-rooted preference for sons and aversion to daughters, aided by technological advances in reproductive technologies has led to a steep decline in the child sex ratio (CSR).