New Delhi: The Centre has reaffirmed that the protection, safety and empowerment of the girl child remain a top national priority, outlining a wide range of initiatives across education, health, financial security and skill development.
The parliament was told by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur that the government is pursuing a multipronged strategy to safeguard girls while ensuring their long-term empowerment.
A key pillar of this approach is Mission Shakti, which operates through two components. The Sambal focuses on protection with measures such as One Stop Centres, Women Helplines, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalats.
The other component, Samarthya, drives empowerment through schemes including Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Palna and the Hub for Empowerment of Women under SANKALP.
Financial security programmes like the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana offer families high-interest savings for daughters, while PMMVY provides cash incentives to mothers to encourage positive attitudes towards girl children.
Furthermore, education initiatives such as Samagra Shiksha, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and Vigyan Jyoti aim to strengthen foundational learning, gender inclusion and girls’ participation in STEM fields.
The Swachh Bharat Mission has also helped to improve sanitation access, supporting better school attendance and health for girls.
For economic empowerment, schemes under Skill India, PMKVY 4.0, DAY-NRLM, NULM, Stand-Up India, Start-Up India, PM SVANidhi and MGNREGS aim to equip girls and women with employable skills and avenues for financial independence.
