Ladli
	Improving Infant & Young Child feeding in Haryana
	Gender Sensitization Programme
	Communication and Publicity
	Conversion of Mahila Mandals into Self Help Groups
	Awards for Rural Adolescent Girls
	Best Mother Award
	Sports Meet for Women

   LADLI :
 ( A new scheme for the girl child)

                    The objective of the scheme is to raise the status of the girl child in the family and in the society and to change the mindsets of the people for proper rearing of the girl children  and providing them the right to birth and the right to survival. With the prevalence of sex determination tests and female foeticide, the sex ratio of females in the State has declined considerably, which is 861 females per 1000 males as per 2001 census. In order to combat the menace of female foeticide, improve the declining sex ratio of females and increase the number of girls in the families, a new sceme Ladli is being launched w.e.f. 20-8-2005 on the occasion of birth day of late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.

 What is Ladli Scheme ?

Under the scheme all parents residents of Haryana or    having Haryana domocile will be provided financial   incentive @ Rs. 5000/- per year for upto five years   whose second girl child is born on or after 20th   August,2005 irrespective of their caste, creed,   religion, income or number of sons.

     Financial Assistance under the Scheme :

  Under the scheme Rs. 5000/- per family per year will be given to the parents on the birth of
    their second daughter born on  or after 20th August,2005 for five years.
  This money will be invested in Kisan Vikas Patras in the joint name of 2nd girl child and the
    mother. In case mother is not alive then this money will be deposited in the joint name of 2nd
    girl child and the father. If both the parents are not alive then this money will be deposited in
    the joint name of the 2nd girl child and the guardian. 
  In case of twin daughters, the incentive will start with immediate effect.
  The first instalment will be released within one month of the birth of 2nd girl child. Successive
     instalments will be released on the birthday of second daughter every year.
  In case of death of either of the girls, the incentive will stop with immediate effect. However,
    the same can be restored from the date it was discontinued on birth of another girl child.
The accumulated amount will be released after the 2nd girl child attains the age of 18 years.

  Eligibility Criteria :

  Under the scheme all parents residents of Haryana or having Haryana domocile will be entitled
    for financial assistance provided there is at least one alive real sister of the 2nd girl child in the
    family.  
  At least one of the parents alongwith the girl children should be residing in Haryana.
  The birth of both the girl children should be registered.  
  The parents should ensure proper immunization of both the girl children and immunization
     record ( as per age of the girl children) may be produced at the time of receiving each
     payment.
  Both sisters should be enrolled in school/Anganwadi centre as per their age.  
  If the parents of the second girl child, born on or after 20th August,2005 are receiving benefit
    under any other scheme like Balika Samridhi Yojna etc. they will still be entitled to benefit
   under this scheme.

   Area of Operation of the Scheme :

  Ladli Yojna will be implemented in both rural and urban areas in  the whole State of Haryana.

  Application for getting the benefit :

To obtain benefit under the scheme, the mother/father/guardian will have to apply on the prescribed proforma. The application form will be available in Anganwadi Centres or in the offices of Child Development Project Officers in rural and urban areas free of cost and in urban areas where ICDS scheme does not exist, the application forms will be available in the offices of Civil Surgeons. The filled in application will be deposited with the Anganwadi Workers and Health staff of the concerned areas. The applicant will have to submit a certified copy of the birth certificate of the 2nd girl child  issued by the competemt authority with the application.

The Govt.  will purchase Kisan Vikas Patras in the joint name of the 2nd girl child and mother/father/guardian.

     Application Form                                        Download

:: LADLI RULES ::

     Ladli Rules (English version)                      Download

     Ladli Rules  (Hindi version)                       Download

      Notification on Ladli Scheme                      Download

:: Ladli Social Security Pension Scheme for Families having only
 Girls ::

           The adverse sex ratio in Haryana has its roots in a very strong son preference  which  is influenced by many socio economic and cultural factors such as the son being responsible for carrying forward the family name and occupation. Sons are also desired because they are considered a support during old age and for performing religious rites at the time of cremation and after. The practice of dowry and daughter being viewed as a burden, as “Paraya Dhan” to be married and sent away is yet another reason why sons are preferred to daughters. Adding to all this is he overwhelming concern about the safety and security of the girl child in the minds of all parents. Our entire value system appears to be based on a strong son preference on the one hand and discrimination against the daughter on the other.

            Families with only girls suffers social disadvantage forcing parents to reject female child in pursuit of a son.  This has over the years led to low value being attached to girls, to the neglect of girls and to female foeticide resulting in a steady decline in the sex ratio which has serious implications for society.

            In order to arrest the steadily declining sex ratio a two pronged approach is being suggested; a special incentive based scheme for families who give birth to two girl children and social and economic security scheme by way of earlier old age pension to such families as have only daughters.

            In society where there is an overpowering urge in families to have sons there are, however, some parents, though very few in number who do not consider girls to be a liability and value daughters as much as sons. These are those  rare couples who have only daughters going against the prevalent social norms of a son as an essential member of the family. In order to encourage families to have only girl children, we must look at and address the aspect of the sense of economic insecurity in the minds of such parents who feel that there would be no body to look after them in their old age once their daughter/daughters get married and go away. Once this is done then the social stigma of having only girls would lessen. This can be done by way of starting a pension for such families earlier than the age for normal old age pension. Normally by the time one of the parents is 55 years old, in most parts of Haryana, the girls are married and go to their husband’s home. It is at this stage that the absence of a son is most felt in a family. Therefore, starting pension at the age of 55 years, 10 years before normal old age pension is given, would help in addressing the sense of insecurity in the minds of parents of only daughters. This step would add value to the girl who would then be seen as bringing some security to parents in old age thereby help in changing the mind set of society qua- girls making them more wanted and in the process help tackle the problem of female foeticide and reverse the declining sex ratio.

  Commencement of the Scheme :

        The scheme will start from 1^st January 2006. Each family will get Rs. 300/- per month.

  Eligibility :

1. Any family where biological single parent/ parents are residents of Haryana or working for Govt. of Haryana and having no son, biological or adopted but only daughter/ daughters are eligible to benefit under the scheme.

2. The enrolment of families under this scheme will commence from the 55^th birthday of the mother or the father whoever is older of the two till their  60^th birthday i.e. for 10 years (Thereafter they will be eligible for old age pension). In case of the death of either of the parents, the surviving partner will get this benefit (i.e. Rs. 300 p.m.) till he/she turns 60 years.

3. In case of single parent families; the age of the surviving parent will be the deciding factor. Family will start getting the benefit of Rs. 300/- p.m. from the day they turn 55 years till 60^th birthday of the living parents.

4. The scheme will not be restricted to BPL/SC/ST families, it will be open for all sections of the society irrespective of their caste, race, creed, religion.  Other terms and conditions of the scheme will be same as mentioned in the old age pension scheme being implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Haryana.

 Financial Implications:

                        To estimate the number of beneficiaries under the Social Security Scheme for families having only girl child/ children, data was collected from all the districts of Haryana in the ICDS areas.  This data  reveals that there are 10550 families in the age group of 50-55 years and 5464 families in the age group above 55 years. The district wise breakup of these families is as under:-

:: Statement showing the information regarding couples having daughters only ::

                        From the above table the total number of estimated beneficiary families in the area covered by the ICDS Programme will be 10550 + 5464 =16014 say 16000. As per monthly progress report of ICDS scheme of March 2005, the population covered under ICDS is 158.90 lacs. The total population of Haryana State as per census 2001 is 210.83 lacs.  Thus extrapolating the figure for the entire State come to 21288 say 22000. Adding 10% margin of error on estimation, the number of beneficiaries would come to 21288 + 2128=23416 rounded off to 23500.  As per scheme a sum of Rs. 300/- per month is proposed to be given to each family. For this purpose the financial implication will be  23500 x 300 x 12 = 846.00 lacs or 8.5 crores per year.

•  DistrictwisE Monthly Progress Report Under Ladli scheme                                                   Download

   Improving Infant & Young Child feeding in Haryana

            Malnutrition, poor maternal and adolescent nutrition, gender discrimination are major problems which require immediate attention and addressed to as every fourth infant born in India has Low Birth Weight & every second child is malnourished, reflecting inadequate caring practices related to health,  hygiene, infant and young child feeding, care of  girls and women.

         According to NFHS-II, in Haryana breastfeeding within one hour was initiated by 11.7 percent of infants which reaches 31.1% within 24 hour period.  Also 76.5% mothers squeeze their first milk from breast and only 47.2% infants of 0-3 months are exclusively breastfed.  Breastfeeding is a critical entry point for ensuring children’s rights to grow and develop to their full potential.  

          In a study conducted by IBFAN, it has been revealed that universal exclusive breast feeding for the first six months is the single most effective child survival intervention - it reduces under –5 mortality by 13%.   Further, complementary feeding along with breast feeding upto 2 years prevents deaths by 6%.

         Position of optimal infant and young child feeding practices is crucial for preventing malnutrition, infant  mortality and for promoting integrated early child development for which the scheme for Improving Infant and Young Child Feeding is proposed with the following objectives:

       I.  to assess the status of infant and young child feeding practices in Haryana State.

      II.  to give training to grass root level ICDS functionaries on Infant and young child feeding practices
           to achieve the goals set at 10th Five Year Plan for Haryana.

•  improve the initiation of breastfeeding within one hour to 37.0 percent from the current level of 11.7 percent  

•  improve exclusive breastfeeding during 0-6 months to 68.4 percent from 47.2 percent (at 0-3 months)  

• improve complementary feeding figures from the current level of 41.8 percent to 93.6 percent.  

::  Action Plan  ::

  Phase-I

                Baseline survey of 17 districts (as data for district Rohtak & Sonepat is already available) for assessing infant & young child feeding and analysis practices   by   interviewing mothers and families of infants between the ages of 0-1 year through BPNI.

  Phase-II

a)   Training to Master Trainers (5 Master Trainers per district from CDPOs, Supervisors and
      Principal Anganwadi Training Centres. and 3 Supervisors from each district). 

b)   Imparting training to Anganwadi Workers on Infant & Young Child Feeding practices &
      counseling for caring through Breast Feeding Promotion Network of India (BFPNI).

c)   Development of IEC material on Breastfeeding with help of BPNI and Food and Nutrition
      Board (FNB) etc.

   Phase-III

                 Counseling of pregnant and nursing mothers/newly married women/ grand mothers etc. through trained ICDS functionaries.  Anganwadi Centres can be declared as counseling centre.  Mother’s Day on every Saturday can be used for counseling and door to door counseling will also be ensured during home visits. 
                For creating awareness among community Information Education & Communication /publicity material well be developed and distributed to the mothers during counseling sessions.  

     :: Budget Estimate  ::

     (I)   Survey:

    (II)  Training :

        (a)  Training of Master Trainers in 4 batches of 25 each for 3-4 days duration (5 Master Trainers per district which can be CDPOs / Supervisors/ Principals / Instructors of MLTC and AWTCs ).

          (b) Trainings to 13546 Anganwadi Workers in batches of 30 for 3 days duration.

     No. to be trained                                        =      13546 Workers
                Total Batches for AWWs                               =      452 
                Total cost of training @ 30,000/- per batch     =       Rs. 136.80 lacs for 456 batches

 :: Year-wise budget proposal for training :: 

    (III)   Information Extension and Communication :

:: Year-wise Achievement under IYCF scheme  ::

     Gender Sensitization Programme 

              The village community in general and women in particular come into frequent contacts with various development functionaries and officials at the village level.  These service providers are usually Doctors, MPHWs, ANMs, Educationists, Panchayati Raj Personnel, Police etc. These officials often   lack gender sensitivity owing to the fact that they are also brought up and socialized in the same society as that of the community.   Efforts at empowerment get diluted in the absence of support from service providers.  It is therefore important to sensitize them.

              Within this context, it is proposed to gender sensitize Panches and Sarpanches, Medical Officers/Health Functionaries and Police Personnel at the first instance.  

              These gender senstization trainings will be organized at district level in 2160 batches consisting of 54682 panches, 6035 sarpanches, 2000 doctors/Health Functionaries and 2000 police personnel (Total 64717 participants).  Each batch will consist of 30 participants.  A 3 days training manual will be used for orienting these functionaries. These trainings will be imparted through Expert Agencies / Gender Consultants / NGOs @ 5-6 training programmes per block per year @ Rs.10,000/-.

:: Budget Estimate ::

                                                                                            (Rs. in lacs)

    Communication and Publicity 
       (Under Planning-cum-Monitoring Cell)