For the past few years I had been advocating for financial incentives to address the gender ratio in India. I wish I had documented my advocacy but what I had been saying is this: Any girl child that is registered after the birth should be entitled to a financial credit and from there on a family will be given a pre-determined financial credit for bringing the girl baby to the well-baby clinic every three month up to the age of five years at which point in time the entire amount in credit will be put in a fixed deposit for 13 years. At the end of 18 years, the girl will be given the entire amount to use it in whichever the way she sees it fit.
Today I am surprised to read about the Indian government’s intentions to pursue this precise methodology [click here to read the article] to address this very issue. This scheme is only extended to the families that belonged to low socio-economic status. I am glad that they are thinking of doing it but my thoughts went bit further.
What happens to a family of low socio-economic status if they choose to adopt a girl baby? Will they be entitled to the above benefit? Article doesn’t say anything but the logic tells me that if a low socio-economic status family is supported with financial incentives to care of their biological child, how much more ought to be done to support the same family if they adopt? Much more.
I intend to write to the Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development Ms. Renuka Chowdary about this issue and if you feel the same and would like to write to her, please write to her and to her Secretary at these email addresses: min-wcd@nic.in, secy.wcd@nic.in
Please forward this mail to all your friends that there may be more people writing to the government to consider this request.
Ruby
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