Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India - The Chief Minister's Girl Child Protection Scheme in Tamil Nadu is a crucial initiative designed to safeguard girl children from exploitation and ensure their overall well-being. This scheme provides financial assistance and support to families, promoting the healthy development and education of girls.

Objectives of the Scheme:

The primary objectives of the Chief Minister's Girl Child Protection Scheme include:

• Preventing female infanticide and foeticide: By providing financial incentives, the scheme aims to change societal attitudes and reduce the incidence of these harmful practices.
• Promoting the education of girl children: The scheme encourages families to invest in their daughters' education, recognizing its importance for their future.
• Ensuring the well-being of girl children: By providing financial security, the scheme helps to protect girls from exploitation, child marriage, and other forms of abuse.
• Empowering Families: The scheme aims to empower families to take care of their girl children

Key Features:

• Financial Assistance: The scheme provides financial assistance to the girl child, typically in the form of a fixed deposit.
• Eligibility Criteria: Specific eligibility criteria apply, often related to family income, the number of girl children in the family, and adherence to certain conditions (like sterilization of parents after a certain number of children).
• Maturity Benefits: The deposited amount, along with accrued interest, is typically payable when the girl child reaches a certain age, usually 18 or 21.

How the Scheme Works: The Tamil Nadu government, through this scheme, provides a secure financial foundation for girl children. Eligible families can enroll their daughters, and the government makes a deposit in the girl's name. This deposit grows over time, and the matured amount is given to the girl upon reaching adulthood. This financial support can be used for education, marriage, or other essential needs.

Impact and Significance:

The Chief Minister's Girl Child Protection Scheme has played a significant role in:

• Improving the sex ratio: By addressing the issue of female infanticide, the scheme contributes to a more balanced sex ratio in the state.
• Enhancing educational outcomes: The financial support encourages families to send their daughters to school, leading to improved literacy rates among girls.
• Promoting social justice: The scheme empowers girls and women, helping to create a more equitable society.

The Tamil Nadu government remains committed to the welfare of girl children and continuously works to strengthen and expand the reach of this vital scheme.