U'khand allocates Rs 16 cr for Nandadevi Kanya scheme

Dehradun, Jan 3 (PTI) Uttarakhand government has allocated Rs 16 crore for the Nandadevi Kanya scheme, aimed at ending the gender divide, in the current financial year, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has said. Under the scheme, newborn girl child from Below Poverty Line families are given a fixed deposit cheque of Rs 5,000 that can be encashed when the girl attains 18 years of age, Nishank said, adding that the government has allocated Rs 16 crore for the plan.Only two girl children from each family can avail the scheme. No loans can be taken against the fixed deposit, he said.The scheme was launched to check child marriage, female foeticide and to provide women empowerment, Nishank added.