Bhopal
Many important steps have been taken to prevent child marriage in Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Ladli Laxmi Yojana has an important role in this. The effect of this scheme is that the attitude towards daughters is changing in the society. People have now started giving priority to the education and welfare of their daughters. This is proving to be a positive step to stop child marriage. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), in the year 2019-21, the rate of marriage before 18 years among women aged 20 to 24 years in Madhya Pradesh was 23.1 percent. This rate has decreased compared to last year. This rate in NFHS-4 during the year 2015-16 was 32.4 percent.
These positive changes came from Ladli Lakshmi Yojana
Due to schemes like Ladli Lakshmi, it has become possible for girls to stay in school for a longer period. Enrollment in secondary education has increased due to late marriage. Delaying marriage and motherhood reduces the risks of teenage pregnancy, which helps improve maternal and child health in the state.
In order to prevent child marriage in the state, there is a provision in the scheme right from the beginning that the benefit given on completion of 21 years of the girl child will be payable only if the girl child is not married before the age of 18 years.
The main objective of starting Mukhyamantri Ladli Lakshmi Yojana was to improve the sex ratio, prevent child marriage, encourage girl education and encourage change in the behavior of the society towards the girl child. In order to ensure the education of girls, there is a provision of financial assistance of Rs 2 thousand in the form of scholarship in class 6th, Rs 4 thousand in class 9th and Rs 6 thousand each in class 11th and 12th. In order to ensure higher education of girls, there is a provision of giving an incentive amount of Rs 25 thousand for getting education in professional and graduate courses after class 12th.
