Mukhyamantri Balika Protsahan Yojna in Bihar
Bihar is an Indian state towards the eastern part. It is considered to be the 13th largest of all the states in India. It has Uttar Pradesh towards its west and it also shares it border with Nepal. It has Jharkhand towards its southern region.
The census of 2011 indicated the population here. Almost 90% of the population here lives in the rural areas. You may call it to be one of the youngest states as majority of population (58%) is below 25 years of age. The sex ratio is 919 females/1000 males. The current literacy rate here is 63.2% Out of this, majority of educated population is of males than females. It is 75.7% males and only 55.1% females are educated. There has been growth in the literacy rate amongst females. But it grew over the period of 10 years. Urbanization is happening at a good pace here, but it is called slow by many economists.
Education in Bihar
Bihar was not educationally inclined always. It was after the British rule that Patna University got into shape. It is the 7th oldest operating university as it started to function in the year 1917.
Bihar is putting in efforts to increase the literacy rate amongst females. Government is putting in efforts to establish educational institutions. Many more initiatives are being taken.
Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar recently launched a new scheme – Mukhya Mantri Balika Protsahan Yojana. It is aimed at providing financial support to girls who show meritorious performances in academics. This move is expected to encourage girls to take a step ahead towards academics.
Main aim of the scheme
The primary focus of the scheme is listed below:-
- This is expected to empower women in best possible way. Families, who could not encourage girl child education due to financial matters, have a support to push their girls towards academics.
- Bihar is not economically rich state of India, parents have to terminate educating their daughters after a while due to finances, and this scheme may empower them and encourage educating their daughters.
- This scheme intends to decrease the difference between the number of educated boys and the girls. As it is too much. Girls will be educated more.
- Since finances will not be that big a problem for parents to deal with, this may reduce female feticide and infanticide.
Features
Characteristic features of the scheme are listed below:-
- Benefits of the scheme can only be availed by the girls who pass class 10th with first division. The financial assistance is of worth Rs. 10000 only.
- The scheme will educate and empower girls and their families with better career opportunities. The only clause here is, they have to deposit their class 10th mark sheet to avail the scheme.
- There is no caste bias in this scheme. Be it General, sc/st or OBC, any may avail the benefits.
Additional initiatives
Not just for girl child education, the Government of Bihar is taking due responsibility to educate other ignored sectors as well. For instance- jail inmates and their education. Some points are mentioned below:-
- Any inmate, above 15 years of age, is encouraged for academics; inmates are constantly motivated to educate themselves for better lives after the release from jail.
- Inculcate feeling of responsibility amongst them, to be able to survive better outside jail premises. Primarily they are educated for letter writing and other simple tasks they may take as job for themselves.
- The educated inmates are given the responsibility to educate i.e. be the teachers to inmates. Paraphernalia needed for education, i.e. books and notebooks, is provided by the ministry
- The jail authorities identify inmates who are not educated and register their presence. They also keep on reporting the government about the educational development amongst inmates.
Inmates are motivated to take their education seriously after the release as well. All senior officials of the jail take their due responsibility. Indeed the government of Bihar is taking steps for better future in the times to come.
Conclusion
WE being part of a democratic country, our one of the fundamental rights are – freedom of speech. But most of the time we use this right in a more destructive way than constructive. Often we criticize our government for not doing many things and ignore what efforts are being put in. It would be real nice if we take our responsibility ourselves and do our best, instead of looking what others are not doing, we should focus on our responsibilities.
Balika protsahan yojana is indeed a brilliant effort to educate the girl child. AS sated above, 90% of Bihar’s population lives in rural areas. There, sources of incomes are very low and money indeed is a challenge to earn. With efforts like these, we may surely expect brighter times ahead.
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