National Girl Child Day: ‘Women powering India’s growth today’; a peek into Modi govt’s key schemes

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday extended greetings to everyone on National Girl Child Day and said that girls now represent sheer strength and an invaluable force in nation-building, as they are leading the progress of India now.

Taking to social media platform X, Shah wrote, “Greetings to everyone on 'National Girl Child Day.’ #NationalGirlChildDay symbolises that girls are not merely our responsibilities but sheer strength. The glorious examples of Rani Lakshmi Bai, Rani Velu Nachiyar, Mula Gabharu, and Pritilata Waddedar fill every Indian heart with pride and inspiration."

“The Modi government's mantra of women-led development has placed Nari Shakti at the forefront of development, and today women are leading the progress of our nation,” the HM further stated, highlighting the role of women in India’s growth story.

National Girl Child Day

National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on January 24 in India. It is a significant occasion dedicated to highlighting the rights, education and overall welfare of girls. 

The day, initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008, aims to raise awareness about the importance of empowering girls and creating an environment where they can thrive without facing the barriers of gender discrimination.

The National Girl Child Day also aims to promote awareness about the rights of girls and ensure that they are given equal opportunities and adequate support, free from gender bias. 

Apart from drawing attention to the inequalities faced by girls, it encourages their education and motivates society to value and respect them as equals.

It also addresses critical issues such as female foeticide, declining sex ratio and discrimination, while fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for the girl child.

Initiatives Taken By Modi Govt

Over the years, the government has launched several schemes and initiatives aimed at empowering girls and improving their socio-economic status. Some of the key programmes include:

- 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao': Focusses on preventing gender-biased sex selection and promoting girls’ education

- 'Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana': Encourages savings for the future of the girl child

- 'National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education': Promote enrollment and reduce dropouts among secondary-level girls

- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: Seeks to eliminate child marriage by penalising those involved in the practice

- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012: Addresses sexual abuse of children, with updated rules in 2020 to strengthen its implementation

- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: Ensures care, protection and rehabilitation of children in need

- Mission Vatsalya: Focusses on child development and protection, offering services such as the Child Helpline and the Track Child Portal to assist missing children

- Track Child Portal: Facilitates the matching of missing children reported at police stations with those found and residing in Child Care Institutions

- PM CARES for Children Scheme: Supports children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, collaborations with NIMHANS and the E-SAMPARK programme provide mental health and medical care

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National Girl Child Day is a powerful reminder of the need to empower girls and create a society rooted in equality and opportunity. Through consistent initiatives, forward-looking policies, and sustained awareness campaigns, the government continues its efforts to bridge gender gaps, promote education, and safeguard the health, safety, and overall well-being of girls across the country.

Recognising, supporting, and nurturing the potential of every girl child is vital to shaping a more inclusive, progressive, and equitable future for India.