Objective

Features

• Improve the child sex ratio
• Ensure gender equality and women empowerment
• Prevent gender-biased, sex selective elimination
• Ensure survival and protection of the girl child
• Encourage education and participation of the girl child

• Launch date: In 2015
• Type: Centrally sponsored scheme with 100% funding by the Central Government in all the districts of the country under Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti
• Ministry: The program is collaboratively managed by three ministries:
  • Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD) – Responsible for overall administration, coordinating with stakeholders, advocacy efforts, training, and monitoring activities. 
  • Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) – Oversees the Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, conducts evaluations, and enhances capacity building. 
  • Ministry of Education – Focuses on ensuring school enrollment, constructing toilets, re-enrolling dropouts, and providing incentives for outstanding girls.
• Scheme Components:
  • Advocacy campaigns: Launched to address the issue of declining CSR and SBR.
  • Gender-Critical District Interventions: Focused actions in 640 districts to enhance sex ratios and improve access to education and healthcare. 
  • Financial incentive-linked scheme: Sukanya Samriddhi scheme—was launched to encourage parents to build a fund for female children.
• Target Beneficiaries
  • Girl Child
  • Women
  • Community at large

• Monitorable Targets
  • Improve Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in selected gender critical districts by 2 points in a year.
  • Reduce Gender differentials in Under-5 Child Mortality Rate from 7 points in 2014 (latest available SRS report) to 1.5 points per year.
  • At least 1.5% increase per year of Institutional deliveries.
  • At least 1% increase per year of First trimester ANC registration.
  • Provide functional toilet for girls in every school in selected districts.
  • Improve the nutritional status of girls-by reducing number of underweight and anaemic girls under five years of age.
  • Ensure universalization of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), girls' attendance, and equal care, monitored using joint ICDS NHM Mother Child Protection Cards.
  • Promote a protective environment for girl children through implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012.
  • Train elected representatives/grassroot functionaries as Community Champions to mobilize communities to improve CSR and promote Girl's education.
• Key Initiatives under the scheme

• Digital Guddi-Gudda Board: A digital platform for exhibiting gender disparity in birth rates and providing information on schemes and programmes created for safeguarding the girl child
• Udaan - Sapne Di Duniya De Rubaru: Initiative offering girls an opportunity to shadow professionals in fields of their choice
• My Aim My Target Campaign: Recognition programme to felicitate top academic performances by girls in higher secondary schools
• Aao School Chalein: Enrolment campaign involving door-to-door visits and registrations to ensure 100% enrolment of girls in schools.
• Bal Cabinet: Youth leadership programme where girl students simulate government cabinets and ministerial roles to discuss and resolve issues