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Dispur’s care for daughters
The scheme funded under the Assam Bikash Yojana comes with certain riders apart from the fact that the baby must be born in a Government hospital. Those who have the means to pay for cabins and private hospitals will not be eligible.
Secondly, the parents must adhere to the Government policy of two children. In the event that both children are of fair sex, only one will be eligible.
Thirdly, the money can not be encashed by the girl till she reaches the age of 18. This is being done to ensure that the girl is not made to tie the nuptial knot before 18 and can thus pursue her studies at least up to the secondary level.
Talking to Eastern Panorama, Chief Minister Gogoi said, “This is a red-letter day for Assam, as the scheme will take care of the child, giving her a sense of belongingness and will make her study at least till the tenth standard.”
He further said that the scheme will also help in balancing the boy-girl ratio in the state.
Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has introduced a slew of schemes to infuse vitality in the state health scenario in the past couple of months, said that the special assistance scheme will ensure equal care and opportunities for daughters.
“A couple will be rewarded with a cheque of Rs. 5,000 if they do not have offspring till two years after marriage and Rs.7,500 after three years,” said Sarma.
He said that the girl can withdraw half of the amount after matriculation and the rest after she turns 18.
Altogether 42 newborn girls were awarded with the amount. The first recipient of the cheque was Fahmida Akhtar from Azara, who was born on February 1, 2009. She received a fixed deposit of Rs. 5000.
The scheme launched in Kamrup district will be extended to all the districts of the state in a phased manner. The Rs. 100 crore scheme will be funded by the government from its own resources.
In a society where the birth of a girl brings gloom and despair for the whole family, this unique scheme is like a boon to the girl who would have otherwise had a bleak future ahead of her.
