National Girl Child Day

24 January: National Girl Child Day

National Girl Child Day is celebrated on 24 January every year since 2009. The theme for the National Girl Child Day 2011 was Adolescent Girls: Issues and Challenges.  The theme was chosen to address concerns relating to health, nutrition and education of adolescent girls alongwith empowering them to face challenges like Domestic Violence, Child marriage and dowry. The celebrations on the occasion of the National Girl Child Day in New Delhi were presided over by Minister of State (Independent Charge) Krishna Tirath.

In India 8.3 crore girls are in the age group of 11-18 years which constitute 17% of the total female population of 49.65 crores. The female literacy rate is only 53.87% and nearly one third of the adolescent girls are undernourished. As per the NFHS-3 survey, 56.2% women in the reproductive age group 15-49, are anaemic. The female population in the country need to wake up to their rights and dues. Girls have been grated right to education under RTE Act. It is also important that young girls are informed about legislations such as: Dowry Prohibition Act 2006, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 and Domestic Violence Act 2009, in order to be better prepared to face the numerous challenges in her life.

Ministry of Women and Child Development initiated few significant scehemes to help develop the woman lot in the country.  Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, named as ‘SABLA’ was launched which through the use of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) platform work to empower the adolescent girls. Dhanalaksmi scheme is also operational under which cash transfers are made to the family of the girl child on fulfilling certain specific conditions relating to birth and registration, immunization, school enrolment and retention up to Class VIII.