Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday said that any district succeeding in setting the sex ratio right would attract a reward of Rs. one crore.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day National Thematic Workshop on 'Woman and Child Development' in Panipat, Ms Gandhi said, "The district commissioner and ambassadors of the campaign (improving the sex ratio) would also be suitably rewarded by the government." The event was organised by the Haryana Women and Child Development Department in Panipat.
Ms Gandhi urged district commissioners, state governments and other operators to work together for the success of the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' programme, and report the innovative programmes and initiatives. The programme will be officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat on Thursday, reports India Today.
She also said that since Haryana was one of the states with a declining female sex ratio, Modi had decided to kick off the campaign from there.
"One hundred districts with low female sex ratio have been selected from all over the country for the campaign. It would be extensively carried out to bring about positive psychological change in the mindset of the people towards the girl child," Ms Gandhi added.
She also raised the point that of the 46 percent children affected by malnutrition in India, 70 percent were girls.
The 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' programme is being supported by the Indian Oil Corporation and ActionAid India, an NGO.
