Madhya Pradesh constantly promoting girls’ education
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh government is paying constant attention to girls’ education. On one hand, girls are being motivated to come out of houses and attend schools and on the other hand, they are also being provided free cycles, uniforms, text-books etc. As a result of state government’s positive efforts, girls’ education status is constantly improving in Madhya Pradesh.
Arrangements for free uniforms to girl students have been made in Madhya Pradesh. Rs. 400 per head is being given to purchase 2 sets of uniform to 94 lakh girl students of class I to VIII. On the initiative of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, boys are also being provided 2 sets of free uniform for last 3 years. For purchasing cycle, a sum of Rs. 2300 is provided to village girl students who pass class V and have to go to nearby village’s government school to study in class VI. During initial years of the scheme 2009-10 and 2010-11, only girls were provided free cycles. During these years, 2 lakh 2 thousand and 2 lakh 8 thousand girl students, respectively, benefited from the scheme. As per wish of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, boys were also included in the scheme from year 2011-12. Thereafter, the scheme benefited 5 lakh 8 thousand 718 boys and girls in year 2011-12; 5 lakh 7 thousand 590 in 2012-13 and 5 lakh 22 thousand 833 boy and girl students got free cycles in year 2013-14. During year 2013-14, as many as 3 lakh 30 thousand girls were provided free cycles by state government including 37 percent SC and 17 percent tribal girl students.
Kasturba Gandhi Girls Schools and girls hostels have been opened to help girls students of small habitats of SC, ST and backward classes to complete middle level education. As many as 49 lakh girls are being benefited by the scheme. Wardens and cooks deployed at Kasturba Gandhi Girls Schools and girls hostels are trained in food habit management and housekeeping at Hotel Management Institute. Sports for Development Scheme with UNICEF’s cooperation is being implemented for girls of Kasturba Gandhi Girls Schools and girls hostels.
Free text-books are distributed every year to about 96 lakh students of government schools, registered madarsas and Sanskrit schools in the state. Large number of girls are also getting benefit of the scheme. Benefit of the schemes was extended to 18 lakh girl and boy students in year 2009-10; 19 lakh 23 thousand 554 in 2010-11; 20 lakh 82 thousand 573 in 2011-12; 23 lakh 10 thousand in year 2012-13 and 24 lakh 17 thousand 203 students in year 2013-14. Apart from boys, girls students of class VI to VIII are also being provided scholarships. Arrangements have been made to give scholarship to regular girl students of class IX and XII who are the only issue of their parents and have secured over 60 percent marks in class X. It is being paid under Samagra Scholarship Scheme.
Training of judo-karate and taekwondo is being imparted for self-defence, mental and physical development to girl students of all schools in the state. Last year, 66 thousand girl students of high and higher secondary schools were imparted training. For girl students of class IX to XII, as many as 200 out of sanctioned 201 girls hostels are being run in Madhya Pradesh where about 17 thousand girls are studying. Large number girl students of Madhya Pradesh have also won medals in school level sports competitions in various states of the country.
