The Indian government has always been at the forefront of initiatives that promote girl child education. It has set up various schemes and programmes to encourage girls to attend school and complete their education. In this article, we will take a closer look at the role of the Indian government in girl child education, and how it is working to improve the situation
Importance of Girl Child Education
Education is important for everyone, but it is especially important for girls. Women make up half of the world’s population and yet they are often treat as second-class citizens. In many parts of the world, girls are not give the same opportunities as boys when it comes to education.
This is why girl child education is so important. When girls are educated, they have the opportunity to reach their full potential. They can get better jobs, earn more money and support their families. As a matter of fact, educated women are also more likely to be healthier and have healthier children.
Investing in girl child education is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty and improve the health and wellbeing of communities. It is also one of the best investments we can make for the future of our planet.
Responsibility of Government towards Girl Child Education
The girl child is an important part of the society and she should be given equal opportunity to education like a boy child.
The government has the responsibility to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the age of six to fourteen years as per Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. However, according to a report by UNESCO, the literacy rate for girls aged 15-24 years is only about 76.0% in India as compared to 92.0% for boys of the same age group. This indicates that there is still a long way to go before the government can fulfill its responsibility toward girl child education.
There are various reasons why girls in India are not able to get access to quality education
- Many families in India cannot afford to send their girls to day schools or best boarding schools in India as they need them to help with domestic work or earn their livelihood.
- The widespread belief that education is not important for girls.
- Girls are often married off at a young age and are not allow to continue their studies.
The government needs to take steps to address these issues if it is to fulfill its responsibility toward girl child education. One way to do this is by providing financial assistance to families who cannot afford to send their girls to school.
Schemes brought by the Government for the Welfare of Girls Education
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative is launch by the government of India in 2015. With an aim to address the declining child sex ratio and empower the girl child. The scheme is being implemented across the country in a phase manner. This scheme is one of the popular schemes which is start by government to provide a support to the girls education and it is promoted by both state and central government.
Sukanya Samridhhi Yojana
Sukanya Samridhhi Yojana is a government-backed saving scheme for the girl child in India. The scheme is launch in 2015 and is currently open to girls. The Sukanya Samridhhi Yojana account can be open by the girl’s parents or legal guardian at any designated bank or post office. The account can be open with an initial deposit of ₹1000 and subsequent deposits of any amount, subject to a maximum of ₹150,000 in a financial year.
Balika Samridhi Yojana
The Balika Samridhi Yojana is a welfare scheme for the girl child in India. This scheme was launch by the government in 1992. And is currently being implement in all states and union territories of the country. The scheme provides financial assistance to families for the education and health of their girl child. The scheme also offers life insurance cover.
Mukhya Mantri Rajshri Yojana
The Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana is a scheme launch by the state government of Maharashtra with an aim to provide financial assistance to families below the poverty line. The scheme is name after Late Smt. Rajshree Patil, former minister of women and child development, had championed the cause of the poor and needy. Under the scheme, each family below the poverty line will receive a one-time grant of Rs. 5000. The scheme is currently in its pilot phase and is being implement in selected districts of Maharashtra.
Conclusion
The Indian government has been making concerted efforts to bring about changes in the education sector for girls. There are various schemes and programs launched by the government with an aim to improve girl child education. While there is still a lot of ground to be cover, we can see that things have start changing for the better in recent times. Girls are now getting access to quality education at CBSE boarding schools in India. We hope that with more awareness and support, the girls in our country will continue to walk towards progress and break all barriers that come their way.
