Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday announced a slew of measures for the welfare of girl children and anganwadi and nutritious meal scheme workers.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the fixed deposit amount for girl child covered under the government’s Girl Child Protection Scheme would be hiked.
At present, Rs 22,200 is being deposited if the family has only one girl child and in case there are two girl children, the government would deposit Rs 15,200 for each of the children, which would be returned to them after 20 years with interest.
“The deposit amounts have been increased to Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively,” she said. Recalling that the scheme was inaugurated by her during the previous AIADMK regime to eradicate female infanticide, the CM said the State’s marriage assistance scheme would also be extended to these beneficiaries.
As such, they would get four grams gold and monetary assistance, according to their educational qualification, she added. Announcing more concessions, Jayalalithaa said so far, the fixed deposit amount was given to the beneficiary only after the maturity period of 20 years and this would be reduced to 18 years.
During the current year, 30,000 women would benefit from this measure. She said the annual income ceiling for girl children to become eligible for five different marriage assistance schemes initiated by the government would also be hiked from Rs 24,000 per year to Rs 72,000.
Announcing welfare measures for Anganwadi workers, the CM said Anganwadi assistants were given weekly holiday on Saturdays, and the Anganwadi workers on Sundays. Since both were inter-dependent for the smooth functioning of Anganwadis, Sundays would be a common holiday for them. The noon meal to children for Sundays would be given as ingredients to their parents the previous day itself.