The Maharashtra government authorised a financial programme on Tuesday under which girls from low-income households would get payments in stages following birth, with the total for qualified recipients reaching Rs 1 lakh when they reach the age of 18, news agency ANI reported. Girls from households with yellow and orange ration cards would receive Rs 5,000 when they are born, Rs 6,000 when they enter Class 1, Rs 7,000 in Class 6, Rs 8,000 in Class 11, and Rs 75,000 when they reach the age of 18 (total Rs 1 lakh), according to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Shinde made the announcement after presiding over a state cabinet meeting.
The scheme, dubbed 'Lek Ladki' (dear daughter), would be available to girls born after April 1, 2023, and was announced earlier this year by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also held the finance responsibility at the time, when presenting the budget for 2023-2024, PTI reported.
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The scheme's goals are to raise the proportion of females, encourage their education, and eliminate malnutrition and child marriage.
Manisha Kayande, a spokesman for the governing Shiv Sena, praised the cabinet decision, saying the plan will guarantee the girl child receives financial assistance from birth and will help reduce female infanticide.
In another move, the cabinet accepted a request to change the name of Dr Babasaheb Amebdkar Marathwada University from Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The institute's name will now be Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as a result of this modification.
(With Inputs From Agencies)