GIRL CHILD PROTECTION SCHEME The GCPS scheme was launched on 8th March, 2005 which is a novel and

first of its kind in the Country with the main objective of giving protection to girl child. G.O.Ms.No.33, Women Development Child Welfare & Disabled Welfare (JJ.A1) Department, Dt.18.12.2009 has been issued with following aims. Objectives of the Scheme: -

Promote enrollment and retention of the girl child in school and to ensure her education at least up to intermediate level. Encourage girls to get married only after the age of 18 years. Encourage parents to adopt family planning norms with two girl children. Protect the rights of the girl child and provide social and financial empowerment to girl child. Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against girls. Strengthen the role of the family in improving the status of the girl child. Extend a special dispensation to orphans / destitutes and differently abled girls.

Welfare of Girl Child

The Ministry of Women & Child Development is implementing a number of schemes for the welfare and development of the girl child. Dhanalakshmi a Scheme for conditional Cash Transfer for the Gird Child is being implemented on a pilot basis in eleven blocks in seven States since 2008-09. This was informed by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Smt. Krishna Tirath in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. The Minister said that the scheme provides for cash transfer to the family of a girl child on fulfilling certain conditionality relating to registration of birth, immunization, enrolment and retention in school till class VIII; and an insurance coverage if the girl remains unmarried till the age of 18. The 79,555 girls are expected to benefit under the scheme during 2008-09. The Scheme of Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) is being implemented in 6118 Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) projects for adolescent girls (11 to 18 years) using the infrastructure of ICDS for addressing the needs of self development, nutrition and health status, literacy and numerical skills, vocational skills, etc of adolescent girls. The Scheme of Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) is being implemented on a Pilot Project basis in 51 districts in the country. Undernourished adolescent girls in age group of 11-19 years are provided free food grains @ 6 kg. Per beneficiary per month. During the year 2009-10, Rs.10.00crore has been allocated for Dhanalakshmi Scheme. Total funds earmarked for States for Kishori Shakti Yojana is Rs.71.30 crores for 200910. Funds are released at the rate of Rs.1.1 lakh per project per annum to be the States/UTs. Total funds earmarked for Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls for 2009-10 is Rs.162.77 crore and State wise allocations are based on expected number of beneficiaries in each state.