'Ladli Lakshmi Yojana' has helped more than 23 lakh girls, says MP CM Chouhan

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], Dec. 17 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said more than 23 lakh girls have benefitted from the 'Ladli Lakshmi Yojana', which is aimed at changing the mindset that girls are a burden. "We found out that there was a gap in the sex ratio in Madhya Pradesh. The gap was due to the mentality that girl is a burden and not a boon. We thought that if people consider girls as burden they won't make them progress. Less number of girls is born in villages than in cities. More girls are born to the rich than poor. So, more girls are born in educated families," Chouhan said in an exclusive interview with Smita Prakash, Editor, ANI. Chouhan said as mere sloganeering won't help, the scheme called 'Ladli Lakshmi Yojana' was made. "We thought of giving incentives if girls are born. Due to this scheme more than 23 lakh girls have become 'Ladli Lakshmi'. We have submitted almost Rs. 7,000 crore. Many states have followed this scheme. Unless and until a woman gets the power to rule, there won't be women empowerment. Madhya Pradesh has taken strong steps for women empowerment," he added. Asserting that the 'Narmada Seva Yatra' is linked with 'Beti Bachao', Chouhan said a big social movement is going on. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said untreated water won't go to Narmada, adding that the state has started the use of treatment plant. "There will be toilets in every household so that the water of Narmada is not made dirty. The things used in worship should not be put in the river. Narmada will be worshipped with its own water. People make the water dirty in the name of worship. We will make changing rooms for the ladies. We are working on the campaign to make people get free from drugs. So it is a strange campaign with which 'Beti Bachao' campaign is also associated," he added. 'Ladli Laxmi Yojana' is a scheme introduced by the Madhya Pradesh Government with the objective to lay a firm foundation of girls' future through improvement in their educational and economic status and to bring about a positive change in social attitude towards birth of a girl. The scheme was inaugurated by Chauhan in 2007 which was followed by expansion to six additional states. Under the scheme the government purchases National Savings Certificate of Rs. 6,000 each year for five years and these would be renewed from time to time. At the time of girl's admission in the sixth standard, Rs. 2,000 and on admission in the ninth standard Rs. 4,000 would be paid to the girl. When she gets admitted in the 11th standard she would receive Rs. 7,500. During her higher secondary education, she would get Rs. 200 every month. On completion of 21 years she would receive the remaining amount, which would be more than Rs. one lakh. (ANI)