BJP leader L.K. Advani promises for the development and empowerment of women in India
New Delhi: L.K. Advani, prime ministerial candidate of the BJP and the NDA, today made two important promises for the development and empowerment of women in India. Using his blog (www.blog.lkadvani.in) as a platform of communication, Advani affirmed that India can be empowered only by empowering Indian women. He paid tribute to Indian women by describing them as the personification of Devotion, Culture and Strength: “Naari Tum Shraddha Ho” (Woman, you are Devotion); “Naari Tum Samskaar Ho” (Woman, you are Culture); and “Naari Tum Shakti Ho” (Woman you are Strength). However, he bemoaned that the actual development status of Indian women, as revealed by statistics, is a matter of deep concern. He, therefore, made two important promises:
”Poverty is one of the main reasons for the discrimination against the girl child at home. This has resulted in lower literacy rates and higher dropout rates among girl children. Clearly, it is the moral duty as well as democratic responsibility of both central and state governments to strive their utmost to remove gender imbalance and promote gender justice in every area of development.
A scheme called the “Ladli Laxmi Yojana” started by the BJP Government in Madhya Pradesh in 2006. Under the scheme, the state government buys savings certificates of Rs. 6,000 each year for five consecutive years for every girl born into a family. The girl gets Rs. 2,000 after she completes the 5th standard, another Rs. 4,000 after she completes the 8th standard, Rs. 7,500 after she completes the 10th standard; Rs. 200 per month in her 11th standard; and a lumpsum amount of Rs. 1,18,000 after she enters the 12th standard or, alternatively, attains the age of 18.
Advani promised that, if elected to form the next government, the NDA will implement the Ladli Laxmi Yojana in every state. It will be our endeavour to make every girl in India a “Lakhpati” by the time she attains maturity and is ready to enter a new phase in her life.”
Advani expressed serious concern over the declining gender ratio in India 1000 (male) to 933 (female). “In some states like Punjab and Haryana, the situation is precarious. Nearly two million female fetuses are reportedly aborted every year.
He said, “There is need to launch a sustained nationwide campaign, combining both government and non-government efforts, against evil practices like female foeticide.” Already, the ’save the girl child campaign’ launched by the BJP Government in Gujarat has addressed the issue of gender imbalance. Previously the gender ratio was 802 girls/ 1000 boys; it has improved up to 894 girls /1000 boys. Similarly, the Kanya Kelavani Abhiyan has successfully reduced the drop out rate among girl students from 41% to 2.5%. If the BJP and NDA are given the mandate in the next parliamentary elections, I shall personally lead the ‘Beti Bachao’ campaign as the head of the government he added.”
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