National Girl Child Day in India is celebrated on January 24 every year. This day provides support, new opportunities to the girls in the country.
What is National Girl Child Day?
National Girl Child Day was first initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The day is celebrated to raise awareness among people about inequalities, discrimination, exploitation faced by the girls in society.
It also aims towards promoting awareness about the rights of the girl child and to increase awareness on the importance of girl education, and their health and nutrition.
Various events are organised all across the country to celebrate the day. To mark National Girl Child Day, the government organises awareness campaigns under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the girl child, Educate the girl child) scheme.
Punjab has announced January 2021 to be the "month of the girl child". The scheme Dheeiyan Di Lohri has also been launched.
The Odisha government honoured individuals and organisations who have worked towards mitigating child marriage on the National Girl Child Day.
Madhya Pradesh celebrated National Girl Child Day with the theme of "Aware girl child, Able Madhya Pradesh" under the scheme Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. From January 24 to 30, the state will also observe the National Girl Child week.
2021 Theme
According to a government press release, National Girl Child day 2021 is being celebrated across the country with the objective of raising awareness on the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR).
The celebrations will also mark the anniversary of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme.
Last year's theme for National Girl Child Day was "My Voice: Our Equal Future" and in 2019, it was "Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow"
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
Launch date: 22nd January, 2015
State: Haryana (Panipat)
This scheme is an initiative to address issues that affect women in the longer term and to reverse the trend of an adverse and declining Child Sex Ratio
Objectives: The Overall Goal of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme is to celebrate the girl child and enable her education. The objectives of the Scheme are as under:
To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination
To ensure survival and protection of the girl child
To ensure education and participation of the girl child
