Himachal leads way in empowering girls, supporting women and strengthening early education

Shimla May 16

Himachal Pradesh is taking bold strides toward gender empowerment and early childhood development under the present state government. The State has shown remarkable improvement in its child sex ratio, which has risen from 947 to 964 in last two years indicating the focused and sustained efforts of the state government in this direction. This positive change has laid the foundation for a new series of transformative initiatives started by the state government.

One of the most promising initiative was the “Indira Gandhi Sukh Suraksha Yojna” aimed to support girls born in Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The scheme aims to deposit Rs. 25,000 for every girl child born in a BPL family with an insurance company at time of the birth ensuring their financial security. It also includes life insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakh each for both the parents. The insured amount would mature when the girl turns 18, or at her choice, she can keep it till she attains the age of 27. This new initiative was expected to greatly strengthen the ongoing “Beti Hai Anmol Yojana” and it would further encourage the welfare and protection of the girl child.

To support the working women, the government has decided to construct 13 new working women’s hostels across various districts including Solan, Neeri, Daruhi, Palampur, Luthan, Baddi, Gagret, Nagrota Bagwan, Chanour Industrial Area and Medical Devices Park in Solan. To be built at a cost of Rs. 132 crore these hostels will help address the growing need for safe and affordable accommodation for women in the workforce.

In the education sector, a major reform has also been introduced for young learners. All 18,925 Anganwadi Centres across the state would be transformed into “Anganwadi Sah Preschools.” These centres would offer play-based early childhood education to children aged between 3 to 6 years. The Anganwadi workers would be trained to deliver this foundational learning besides ensuring children a strong educational edifice.

These forward-thinking measures reflect the commitment of state government towards inclusive development and social welfare. With focused schemes for girls, women and children, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s visionary leadership was paving the way for a stronger and more equitable future of the women of the state.