LADLI BETI SCHEME: SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN JAMMU DISTRICT

Era has transformed. A global attention to various issues in the society has reached an unprecedented level as nations prepare themselves to achieve higher economic growth. The future of India, rests on the foundation being laid today. Children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. If the role of children in the development of the nation is so important, the role of the way they are being brought up is much more important. And here comes the issue of raising a girl in a family as compared to boys. As we know the status of girl child stands very low in Indian society hence there is a low sex ratio in our country. In the process of preparation of the future builders of the nation it has become very important to look towards this issue very seriously. Even after more than seventy years of independence the situation is no more different. Considering these factors in mind the government of Jammu and Kashmiri has started few projects for the benefit of women and girls. Ladli Beti scheme is one of them which is started as a pilot project in few districts of Kashmir and Jammu showing low child sex ratio in April 2015 under the Integrated Child Development Service Scheme. The present study was thus carried to know about the Ladli Beti Scheme and its functioning. Also who are benefitted by the scheme, the problems faced by the beneficiaries in availing this scheme and any change if brought so far. The present study was carried on a total of 24 AWCs. A total of 96 parents were interviewed for the study. The results showed 18.75% of the parents were benefitted by the scheme 76.04% of the parents were not benefitted by the scheme. It was found that the beneficiaries should be provided proper help and guidance time to time by the authorities for proper benefit of the scheme. Some more efforts and focus is required by the authorities towards the scheme.