‘Ladli Beti’ scheme reaches 1.6 lakh beneficiaries

Srinagar, Sep 01: The government’s flagship ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme has undergone a significant expansion, marking a substantial leap towards promoting education and empowerment of the girl child in Jammu and Kashmir.

Official figures reveal a dramatic increase in the scheme's coverage, from 16,095 cases in 2017 to an impressive 1,61,552 cases up to 2023-24.

This tenfold surge in beneficiaries has been accompanied by a corresponding rise in financial assistance, skyrocketing from Rs 24 crore to Rs 847 crore during the same period.

Initiated under the central government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign, the Ladli Beti scheme provides financial assistance to underprivileged families for the education and welfare of their daughters.

The scheme offers a recurring deposit of Rs 1000 per month by the J&K government until the girl reaches 14 years of age, followed by a cumulative term deposit until age 21.

Upon reaching 21 years, the beneficiary receives approximately Rs 6.50 lakh.

All financial assistance is transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

A senior Social Welfare Department (SWD) official emphasised the scheme's importance saying, “Empowering the girl child is not just a matter of social justice but also a crucial driver of economic growth and development. The ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme has played a pivotal role in ensuring girls from economically weaker sections get equal opportunities to pursue their academic dreams and become self-reliant.”

Social activist Manzoor Ahmad said, “Many families in J&K still harbour biases against educating their daughters due to economic constraints and regressive mindsets. Schemes like ‘Ladli Beti’ not only offset the costs but also instil a sense of value and pride in having a daughter.”

Complementing the Ladli Beti scheme, the government also runs a ‘Marriage Assistance’ scheme.

From 2015-16 to 2023-24, 1,04,326 poor girls have been provided financial assistance totalling Rs 394 crore under this initiative.

The J&K government has expressed its commitment to further increasing the coverage and financial assistance under the Ladli Beti scheme in the coming years. Officials said the scheme's multi-pronged approach, combining educational support and marriage assistance, will play a crucial role in empowering the girl child and breaking the cycle of poverty and gender discrimination.

As the scheme continues to expand, it is expected to have far-reaching effects on female literacy, financial inclusion, and gender equity in J&K.

The success of ‘Ladli Beti’ could serve as a model for other states and territories looking to address similar socio-economic challenges.