Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 13: Minister for Social Welfare, Forest, Ecology and Environment Bali Bhagat and Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Asiea Naqash launched the ambitious Ladli Beti scheme at Kathua here today .
MLA Bani Jeevan Lal was also present on the occasion.
They also launched the insurance-based scheme – AASRA that aims at providing security to low-income groups in the event of death or disability.
Highlighting the importance of these schemes, Mr. Bali said that both the schemes envisage extending security cover to the poor beneficiaries and to promote the girl child in view of the declining sex ratio in 8 districts of the State.
The minister said that female feticide is an heinous crime and the Government is taking concrete steps to curb this social evil. There are so many reasons for adverse sex ratio but poverty and illiteracy are two main reasons which should be taken care of ,stressed the Minister .
Minister of state for Health and Social Welfare, Asiea Naqash , while speaking on the occasion informed that the motive of launching Ladli Beti Scheme in Kathua district is to check the alarming decline in sex ratio and said that this scheme will help to change social perception about girl child and improve the living conditions of the girl child . She also said that Ladli Beti Scheme will become a bench mark in providing dignified status to the girl child in the society.
She further informed that Anganwadi workers have an imperative role to play in highlighting various social welfare schemes of the Government and assured that the Government will take necessary steps to redress their issues.
MLA Bani , Jeevan Lal , said that generating awareness about these schemes is necessary to give maximum benefit to the beneficiaries .
Speaking on this occasion, State Mission Director, ICDS, Hashmat Ali highlighted the benefits of these schemes and announced that Kathua is the eight district of the State where Ladli Beti scheme has been launched. He informed that 555 girls have been registered under Ladli Beti Scheme and 1600 registration have been done under Aasra Scheme.
DDC Kathua, Ramesh Kumar, District Programme officer ICDS, Distt. Social welfare officer, CDPOs, Anganwadi workers, Anganwadi helpers and beneficiaries and locals in large number were present on the occasion.