Rajasthan, the largest state of the country which ones was known for female foeticide and child marriages has now completely changed its image. According to the 2011 India’s report on sex ration, Rajasthan was the state that ranked among the bottom states has marvellously changed the complete scenario. Now the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has taken many initiatives in saving girl child and educating them. To the surprise of many, the results in the sec ration has rapidly changed and the state has emerged as the number one state under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one of the key campaigns, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’.
The centre has been highly impressed by the way Rajasthan has taken this turn around under the guidance of CM Raje. Union government was recently updated on how this target, which seemed very difficult, has been achieved in the past two and a half years. To ensure that the sex ratio comes at a desired level and maximum girls could be saved and educated int he state, the Rajasthan government has tried what not. From a signed message from chief minister Vasundhara Raje for parents of a girl child to rewarding the people tip-off the government on sex-selection activities, from a monetary grant for every girl child at various stages to GPS-fitted sonography machines. CM Raje has made sure that no stone leaves unturned as far as the girls of the state are concerned.
Director of Family Welfare, Rajasthan Government, Dr VK Mathur said, “We are on an upswing. As per our internal records, roughly 7.04 lakh children were born in state government health facilities between last August and this month – 3.54 lakh of them were boys while 3.5 lakh were girls – implying a sex ratio at birth of almost 987. The increased child sex ratio will only be known during the next census.”
“The biggest instalment of Rs 25,000 will be released when the girl passes class 12. Rs 11,000 will be given on entering class 10, Rs 5,000 on entering class 6, Rs 4,000 on enrolling into class 1 and Rs 2,500 each on turning a year old and at birth. So the new scheme puts a premium on girl education in the true spirit of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,” he added.
There is no doubt that the mentality of the people of the state has yet to be changed and more awareness needs to be spread among the people especially of the rural areas. The state government agrees that there have been many cases of female foeticide and female infanticide that have been reported in the past couple of years, but the initiatives taken by the Raje government so far so have been fruitful as the target seems closer now. The Union government is enthusiastic and has sent a message out that other states must follow Rajasthan towards the PM Modi’s campaigh, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ and make it a reality.
