International Day of Girl Child day

Why is in news? International Day of Girl Child: - 'Our time is now - our rights, our future'

International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of Girls and the International Day of the Girl.

October 11, 2012, was the first Day of the Girl Child.

The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender.

This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage.

The celebration of the day also "reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research.

This year’s theme for the International Day of the Girl Child is - 'Our time is now - our rights, our future’.

National Girl Child Day - 24th January:

The National Girl Child Day was first initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The main focus is on changing society’s attitude towards girls, decrease female feticide and create awareness about the decreasing sex ratio.

‘Save The Girl Child’ Webinar: It was organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) to promote rights of girl child and to increase awareness on various topics concerning girls including their education, health and nutrition.

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar-2022: Twenty-nine children were given the award on the occasion for their exceptional achievements in innovation, social science, education, sports, arts and culture and for demonstrating bravery.

They were given digital certificates using blockchain technology and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh at an event held online.

Issues Related to Girl Child: Female Infanticide and Foeticide, Child marriage, Education, Health and Mortality, etc.

Steps taken by the Government: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, CBSE Udaan Scheme, National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE), etc. Apart from the central schemes all state Governments have a separate measures for the welfare of girl child.