Every year on January 24, India comes together to observe National Girl Child Day. This day is observed as a reminder about the rights, empowerment and equality of girls. This day was initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008 and serves as a wake up call to address the deep-rooted gender inequalities and provide fair opportunities for girls in every field of life. Since its beginning, National Girl Child Day has become a platform to raise voice and issues such as gender-based discrimination, child marriage, unequal access to resources. This day also encourages the importance of empowering girl children for a prosperous future.
The Government of India has initiated various initiatives and policies that are aimed to foster growth and empowerment of girls. Various schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya have served as a backbone to empower the girl child in the country. These efforts are further supported by community driven campaigns and awareness programmes.
This National Girl Child Day let’s raise awareness about the rights of every girl and stand against discrimination and inequality.
— Indian Oil Corp Ltd (@IndianOilcl) January 24, 2025
Together, we can build a future where every girl has access to her rights and opportunities to dream big.#NationalGirlChildDay #EqualityForAll… pic.twitter.com/f3sgcjjk2I
This National Girl Child Day, MoRTH honours the true pillars of strength of our society – our girls. From dreamers to doers, every girl has the power to change the world. Let's commit together to create a world where every girl can learn, grow, and lead without boundaries.… pic.twitter.com/iV5cJkZsri
— MORTHINDIA (@MORTHIndia) January 23, 2025
National Girl Child Day 2025 Theme
Every year the government comes up with a dedicated theme for National Girl Child Day (Balika Diwas) and the theme for 2025 reflects the continuously changing priorities and goals of the society and government in ensuring all-around development for girls. These themes shed light on the critical areas such as lack of access to education, enhancing healthcare, safer environments for girls and battling the digital divide.
According to sources, the theme for National Girl Child Day 2025 is “Empowering Girls for a Bright Future." This theme highlights the critical importance of building an environment where girls are not just given equal opportunities but they are also provided with skills, education and resources that are required to succeed in life.
#NationalGirlChildDay is being celebrated across the nation today. This day focuses on raising awareness about the rights, education, health, and safety of girls in society.
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) January 24, 2025
The theme for National Girl Child Day 2025 is 'Empowering Girls for a Bright Future'.… pic.twitter.com/iaeJidwaUQ
The theme also places a strong emphasis on instilling self-reliance, confidence and leadership qualities among the girls so that they can break-free from the traditional societal norms and pursue their dreams.
The theme also aligns with India’s commitment to sustainable development, as this theme works on Sustainable Development Goal 5 which states: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”. By focusing on “Empowering Girls for a Bright Future,” the government and stakeholders aim to inspire a collective effort toward addressing the issues.
Government Initiatives for Girl Child Development
The Government of India has implemented various schemes and legal measures to ensure the safety, empowerment, and development of girls in the country. Here is a list.
Source: Press Information Bureau
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched on January 22, 2015, with the aim of addressing the declining child sex ratio and empowering girls and women throughout their lives. It focuses on ensuring the survival, protection, and education of the girl child, promoting a more equitable society.
Udaan
Udaan is a project launched in 2014 by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). It aims to increase the enrollment of girl students in prestigious engineering institutions by providing support and resources to help them bridge the gap between school education and engineering entrance exams. This initiative gives wings to aspiring girl students by encouraging them to pursue careers in science and technology.
Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG)
The Scheme for Adolescent Girls provides nutritional and non-nutritional support to out-of-school girls aged 11-14 years. The nutritional component improves their health, while the non-nutritional component motivates them to return to formal education, offers life skills training, and helps them access public services.
National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education
Launched in May 2008, this scheme focuses on increasing educational opportunities for girls, especially those from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. Now part of the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), it encourages girls to enroll in secondary schools and reduces dropout rates, aiming to ensure they stay in school until they turn 18.
Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene
This scheme, launched in 2011, promotes better menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls aged 10-19 years in rural areas. It is part of a larger effort to improve adolescent reproductive and sexual health, ensuring better awareness and access to hygiene products.
Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme
Introduced in January 2015 as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, this scheme helps parents save for their daughter’s future education and marriage expenses. It encourages financial planning to secure a girl child’s bright future.
Child Protection Services Scheme
This scheme provides institutional care through Child Care Institutions (CCIs) for children in difficult situations. It also offers non-institutional care, including adoption, foster care, and sponsorship, and provides "After Care" services to support children transitioning from institutional care to independent life after the age of 18.
POSHAN Abhiyaan
Launched on March 8, 2018, POSHAN Abhiyaan focuses on tackling malnutrition across the country. It uses technology, community engagement, behavioural change initiatives, and capacity building to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Legal Measures for Protecting the Girl Child
Several legal measures have been introduced to ensure the safety and rights of girls:
- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: This law aims to prevent child marriage by penalising those involved in the practice.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012: This act addresses sexual offenses against children and has been updated in 2020 to strengthen its enforcement.
- Juvenile Justice Act, 2015: It ensures care and protection for children in need and lays down measures for their rehabilitation.
- Mission Vatsalya: This initiative focuses on child development and protection, offering services like the Child Helpline and the Track Child Portal, which helps trace missing children and reunite them with their families.
- PM CARES for Children Scheme: This scheme supports children who lost their parents to COVID-19, ensuring their well-being and development.
- Collaborations with NIMHANS and E-SAMPARK: These programs provide mental health and medical care support to children in need.
In conclusion, National Girl Child Day 2025, with its theme of “Empowering Girls for a Bright Future,” highlights the nation’s commitment to fostering equality, education, and opportunities for girls. Through impactful government initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Udaan, and POSHAN Abhiyaan, as well as strong legal frameworks to protect their rights, India continues to take significant steps toward building a society where girls can thrive.
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