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‘Ladli Laxmi Yojana’: Another sop from Mama Shivraj Singh Chouhan will end as yet another story of failure

The ‘Ladli Laxmi Yojana’ has failed miserably if one considers the figures of female foeticide and infanticide in Madhya Pradesh.

Girls will get Rs 20K after admission to College

On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, M.P. Chief Minister has announced that every girl who has been registered under the “Ladli Laxmi Yojna” will get a grant of Rs 20,000 while entering College.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister projects himself as the savior of women folk and has nicknamed himself Mama. Numerous schemes for the girl child have been proposed, but its goals have never been fulfilled. Either there has been poor implementation, or the funds have gone into the pockets of the people entrusted with the job of running the schemes.

‘Ladli Laxmi Yojana’ Scheme Conceived but never delivered

The Ladli Laxmi Yojana has failed miserably if one considers the figures of female foeticide and infanticide in Madhya Pradesh. A report by Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) noted that one-third of the total number of foeticide in India between 2001-15 occurred in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh accounted for one-fourth of the numbers for infanticide in the country.

The report also indicts the government and its policies, which have led to no improvement in the sex ratio- 914 girls for every 1,000 boys as per the 2011 Census, down from 927 in 2001.

Cultural barriers and other factors have impeded the development of the women’s fold in the state. Activists lament that even the slogans associated with the scheme for women’s empowerment show a patriarchal mindset by referring to women as “‘bahu’, ‘Laxmi ‘Behen’and a person for extending the family, but never as an empowered person.

Changing Mindset Is More Important

If the government empowerment of women schemes is limited to financial sops, there can be no change in the mindset of the people who still regard the girl child as a mishap which will be removed when she reaches 18 and is married off. Such schemes can never change the mindset that girls cannot lead a family, can’t bear responsibilities, and can’t protect themselves.

A study by United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) in 2010 highlighted the fact that giving monetary benefits to a girl when she is 18 years old or of marriageable age covertly supports dowry.

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Manoj Nair

Manoj is a passionate writer who loves writing on a variety of subjects including trivia, retro movies, unique and unkno More »

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