Health Minister Dr Rajeev Bindal disclosed that public awareness campaign under Beti Hai Anmol Yojna would be carried out for the entire year during 2012. He was speaking in the National level Meeting held on implementation of PC and PNDT Act at New Delhi.
Health Minister said that the State Government was implementing the PC and PNDT Act in right earnest. He said that Girl Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) had improved in Himachal Pradesh and added that effective implementation of Beti Hai Anmol Campaign had shown concrete results on the ground. He further said that the Health department had adopted an aggressive approach to tackle the dipping Child Sex Ratio by vigorous monitoring of ultra sound machines, evolving reliable information system and effective awareness campaigns.
Dr Rajeev Bindal said that vigorous campaigns against female foeticide were being launched in the state and all the sections of the society, especially women were being sensitized on this issue. He said that regular inspection of Ultra Sound clinics was being done under PNDT Act to deter sex selection and workshops and seminars have been organized to sensitize medical officers about PNDT Act. Health Minister said that the state had accorded priority to women empowerment and 50 percent reservation to women in PRIs and local bodies had also been given to ensure their participation in the development process. He said that Beti Hai Anmol Yojna was launched in 2008 under which, on birth of a girl child of BPL family, Rs. 5100 were being deposited in the name of girl in post office, which would be given to them after 18 years with interest. He said that this amount will get compounded over the period and will become a respectable amount by the time these girls attained adulthood and it could then be used by them for their career prospects and to lead a life of dignity.
Dr Rajeev Bindal said that free delivery was being done in all the identified 73 hospitals in the State under ‘Matri SewaYojna’. He said that women belonging to BPL, scheduled castes/scheduled tribes families were being given cash assistance of Rs. 700 in rural areas and Rs. 600 in urban areas in case of institutional delivery under ‘Janani Surkasha Yojna’.
