KOHIMA, JULY 15 : The Sukanya Samriddhi Account / Yojana (SSA) drive under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBPP) has been launched by the State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) of the department of Social Welfare in collaboration with Postal Department.
The project, aiming to secure the future of the girl child in the form of a small saving scheme designed for higher education and marriage, was launched on Friday in Kohima.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the programme on January 22, 2015 from Panipat, Haryana. The scheme aims to address the low child sex ratio and empower girl child in 100 gender critical districts in the country.
The main objective of the scheme is to prevent gender biased sex selective elimination, ensure survival and protection of the girl child and ensure education and participation of the girl child.
It is informed that in Nagaland, Longleng had been identified as the ‘gender-critical district’ with 885 girls per 1,000 boys (Census 2011).
Attending the launch as its chief guest, Kiyanilie Peseyie, minister of Social Welfare & Parliamentary Affairs, said that girl’s education was the key to empowering their power. He has asked all in concern to take advantage of the scheme ‘to ensure that as many girls are empowered with education.’
Stressing on the need to strengthen convergence and collaborative effort to help this important scheme become widely spread in Nagaland, Peseyie has urged the department of Rural Development, education and health and family welfare to spread this information through their various village councils, schools and ASHA workers.
‘Let us all make ‘Target 2000’ to secure the future of our girl children’ said the Minister and urged the people to come forward and take active part in this scheme which will only benefit them.
In a brief note on collaboration, Bano Vinito, Chairperson, NSSWB maintained that it is a futile exercise to talk only the importance of girl child education without providing her the social, institutional and financial support, and most importantly ensuring the quality of education.
Education being the fundamental right and basic tool to empower girl child, she asserted that the coordinated and convergent efforts must be strengthened among the departments, civil societies, NGOs to ensure the protection and empowerment of the girl child.
Also speaking on the occasion, RM Patel, Director, Dept of Posts, India, Kohima emphasizing on the importance of the scheme, said the postal network in Nagaland with one head office in Kohima, 41 sub-offices and 300 branch offices are all a point of sale for SSA.
He informed that since the launch of this scheme in January 22, 2015, so far 3866 accounts have been opened in Nagaland with the highest number of accounts opened in Dimapur with 961 and Peren with the lowest with 18 accounts only.
He said this coverage is not encouraging in comparison to the total eligible girl’s population in the state. Patel also informed that the department is making all efforts for promotion of this pioneer scheme, and stated his appreciation on the participation of the state government to widen its footprints to reach every section of the people throughout the state.
It is informed that this campaign would be carried forward to other districts and particularly in Longleng from July 18-29, which has been identified as the gender critical district.
In this regard, the State Resource Centre for Women Nagaland has sought the cooperation and proactive support of all stakeholders to follow up with the grassroot functionaries at the district, block and village level towards creating awareness among the community leaders and parents to make optimal utilization of this scheme.
