Writeup AP 2011-12 - Punjab State Planning Board

schools. Resources permitting, the state government shall strive to extend this scheme to all
girl students studying in class 9 th and 10 th .
152. The child sex ratio of the country which was 927 in 2001 has declined to 914
as per Census of 2011. As many as 28 states have reported declining child sex ratio and
Punjab is fortunate to be among those states where child sex ratio has shown improvement.
The child sex ratio has increased from 798 in 2001 to 846 during the last 10 years. The state
government has launched an ambitious scheme- “Bebe Nanaki Ladli Beti Kalyan Scheme”
wherein the state shall invest Rs. 20000/- on the birth of every girl child born to parents
having a combined income upto Rs. 30000/-. The girl child would receive cash assistance
during her schooling. A new centrally sponsored scheme, namely, ‘Integrated Child
Protection Scheme’ has also been included in the Annual Plan 2011-12 with an outlay of Rs.
7.27 crore for the protection of rights of children.
153. A sum of Rs. 135 crore has been earmarked under Integrated Child
Development Services (SNP) in the Annual Plan 2011-12 to provide supplementary nutrition
to over 15 lakh children and pregnant mothers in 26656 anganwadi centres functioning in the
state. Besides, Rs. 18 crore have been kept under ‘SABLA’ and ‘Kishori Shakti Yojana’
schemes to provide nutrition to the adolescent girls and promote awareness about health,
hygiene, family and child care etc. In addition, Rs. 10 crore are provided for the construction
of building of anganwadi centres in the state.
154. The rates for Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) that are also being
followed under other nutrition schemes have not been revised for the last two years although
food prices have increased tremendously. Therefore, the rates may be linked with price
index. Additional staff should also be allowed by GoI to implement various Central Acts
relating to women, children, handicapped and senior citizens.
WELFARE OF SCHEDULED CASTES / BACKWARD CLASSES
155. The state government has been making efforts to bring perceptible
amelioration in the economic and social status of scheduled castes that are generally poor,
illiterate and downtrodden. All SC and BPL families get free electricity up to 200 units per
month. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited is fully reimbursed the cost of free
power by the state government.
49