Fund crunch hits scheme to curb female foeticide

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, October 30

The Balri Rakshak Yojana, a state government funded welfare scheme to discourage female foeticide, reduce infant mortality rate and balance the skewed sex ratio, has flopped just because of shortage of funds.

Only 24 couples are enrolled under the scheme in Muktsar district. Since 2013, no one has got the incentive money.

Interestingly, the scheme was introduced in 2005 during the Congress regime when a considerable decline was witnessed in the girl child ratio. However, after initial eight years, the funds were not released under the scheme.

As per the scheme, the state government has to deposit Rs 500/1,000 per month into the account of the beneficiary couple who preferred sterilisation, having only one or two daughters and the younger child is below five years of age. The amount has to be given till the time the younger daughter turns 18 or until her parents turn income tax payers. Even the ASHA workers were to be paid motivational allowance of Rs 500 per case, but that too did not happen.

Some officials in the Health Department told The Tribune that they were regularly corresponding in this regard to get the money sanctioned from the state government, but it was never deposited in the accounts of beneficiaries after 2013.

“The matter is in the notice of seniors. However, the incentive money has not come after 2013. In our district, 24 couples have been enrolled under the scheme,” said a senior official in the local Health Department office.

However, repeated attempts to contact Dr Navdeep Singh, Civil Surgeon, Muktsar, proved futile.

Monthly incentive 

• The benefit of the Balri Rakshak Yojana can be availed of by a family which is non-income tax paying and has adopted the two-child norm, with either of the parents undergoing sterilisation.
• The couple should have no male child and can have one or two daughters. 
• The state government promises to give a monthly incentive of Rs 500 for one girl child and Rs 1,000 for two girl children, till the younger child attains the age of 18.