The AP government has plans to begin allotment of cash under the recently announced 'Bangaru Talli' scheme starting July 1st. The scheme has undergone several planning stages and the government has now linked it to Aadhar card. Only those with a white card are eligible to benefit from the scheme.
Officials said that as nearly 90% of the state's residents are card holders, the scheme would reach most girls. Those born since may will receive cash incentives and further payments in different stages of life from the government. About 6lakh girl children were born since the scheme was announced.
As part of the scheme, AP government will offer Rs1,500 each month to pregnant women from conception till birth. A girl child would receive Rs1,500 every year until her 5th year. Parents of the girl would be paid increasing amounts of cash that would enable her education until graduation. Rs.4000 will be paid per year for graduation. For marriage, she would be given Rs1lakh after graduation and Rs50,000 in case of discontinuation of studies.
Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy announced the cash allotment at Medak district. One of the first districts to enjoy the cash benefits is Chintal, which has a dangerously low girl-boy ratio at 545 girls per 1000 boys.
The scheme effectively takes care of the education and marriage expenses of these girls. It ensures that all these individuals will grow up to be graduates with good scope for becoming government job holders. This is a win-win situation for both the government as well as the girl. However, those families without at least one white card holder would lose out on the advantages.
Officials have long been brainstorming ways to implement the large undertaking. Last month, the chief minister set up a cabinet sub-committee to discuss the scheme in detail. The cabinet meeting took three and a half hours to complete, during which panachayat raj minister Jana Reddy and transport minister Botsa raised objections. They reiterated that the scheme should have been discussed prior to implementation. The CM assured the release of funds after the budget session.
(AW:Sruthi)
