Initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Government of India, the National Girl Child Day is celebrated on January 24 every year.
National Girl Child Day Overview
The objective of the day is to spread awareness among people about the inequalities girls face in the country. The day is also observed to spread awareness about the rights of the girl child and to increase awareness on the importance of girl education, their health and nutrition.
The day is celebrated across the country by organising various programmes, including awareness campaigns and seminars to promoting a healthy and safe environment for the girl child.
In 2019, the theme for the day was ‘Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow’.
Government Schemes for Girl Child
The government of India has implemented many beneficial schemes and policies for the girl child in India.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
The key objectives of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme are to prevent gender-based abortions, ensure protection and survival of girl child in infancy and providing education to her.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a special savings scheme in which girl child is the primary account holder and her parent or guardian is a joint holder of the account. This account can be opened before the girl child is 10 years old. The contribution needs to be made for 15 years after opening the account.
Balika Samriddhi Yojana
The Balika Samriddhi Yojana is a scholarship scheme which has been launched to provide financial support to young girls and their mothers who are below the poverty line. The aim is to improve their status in society, increase the eligible age of girls for marriage and ensure that they attend school.
CBSE Udaan Scheme
The CBSE Udaan scheme for girls is administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education through the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The aim of this scheme is to increase the enrolment of girls in reputed engineering and technical colleges across India.
National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education
The National Scheme of Incentive to girls for secondary education scheme is a pan India scheme managed by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. It is mainly for the benefit of girls belonging to the backward classes of the country.
Dhanalakshmi Scheme
The aim of Dhanalakshmi scheme is to provide conditional cash incentives to low-income families with girl children. However, as a result of more attractive schemes introduced by the government over the years, this scheme does not exist now. The key states where the Dhanalakshmi Scheme pilot project was implemented were Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh Jharkhand and Orissa.
Ladli Scheme of Haryana
Ladli Scheme of Haryana is sponsored by the Haryana government to improve the status of girl child in society. The aim is to ensure that the mindset of society towards the girl child is changed.
Karnataka Bhagyashree Scheme
Bhagyashree Scheme is a Karnataka government scheme which has been introduced to promote the birth of girl child among families below the poverty line. Under this scheme, the financial assistance is provided to the girl child who can receive health insurance cover up to a maximum of Rs. 25,000 annually, and an annual scholarship of Rs. 300 to Rs. 1000 up to class 10.
West Bengal Kanyashree Prakalpa
The Kanyashree Prakalpa of West Bengal is a state initiative for girl child schemes introduced to take care of the wellbeing of the girl child belonging to the weaker socio-economic classes. This scheme is implemented by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal in the form of conditional cash transfers. The Kanyashree scholarship is Rs. 750 annually for girls between the age of 13 and 18 years along with a one-time grant of Rs. 25,000 for girls between the ages of 18 and 19 years.
Quotes to Celebrate National Girl Child Day
We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave – to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.” – Malala Yousafzai
“To save a girl is to save generations!” – Gordon B. Hinckley
“When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.” -Michelle Obama
“And though she be but little, she is fierce.” -William Shakespeare
“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” – Coco Chanel
Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That’s what little girls are made of.” – Bethany Hamilton
“The world needs strong women. Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will.” -Amy Tenny
“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” -Margaret Thatcher
“A baby girl is one of the most beautiful miracles in life, one of the greatest joys we can ever know, and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine, laughter and happiness in your world today.” -Anonymous
#NationalGirlChildDay hashtag on Twitter
On National Girl Child Day, various political leaders, celebrities and sports personalities shared inspiring tweets to celebrate the girl child and women empowerment.
Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani tweets, “Today is a day to celebrate fortitude & accomplishments of every girl child. On National Girl Child Day, let us reaffirm our pledge to end discrimination against our girls and empower them with equal opportunities. #MeriBetiMeraGarv.”
Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad shared a picture from his Kashmir visit and wrote, “Felt so proud of Ishrat Akhtar of Baramulla who has defied all adversities and represented India in International wheelchair Basketball tournaments. This daughter of India represents hope, aspiration and prospects of a better and brighter Jammu and Kashmir.”
IFS officer Parveen Kaswan shared an inspirational post about Mangala Mani who is an ISRO scientist. He tweeted, “Ladki hai, Ghar se kitna hi door jaegi”. Mangala Mani recently became the first Indian woman to live in Antarctica for 403 days. An ISRO scientist on the expedition. On #NationalGirlChildDay let’s recognise role played by such women in a country’s progress. Ladki padhao, aage badhao!!
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas a Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted, Girls possess #IspatiIrada. With their indomitable will, they can achieve the unachievable.
This #NationalGirlChildDay, let us pledge to empower and nurture our daughters for a brighter and better tomorrow.”
On the National Girl Child Day, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu wrote, “On this important occasion, I call upon all people to make programmes such as Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao into national movements to generate awareness against gender discrimination & importance of educating a girl child.”
Girl Child Day Images on India Content
The India Content website has a good stock of images related to the National Girl Child Day. The high-quality images are available in three sizes – small, medium and large.
You can purchase various other content images from the https://www.indiacontent.in
