From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 1: Mothers of 10.68 lac girls from poor families in rural areas in nine districts covered under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme will be distributed sarees costing Rs 220 each this month.
               
Under the scheme launched by the H D Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-BJP coalition regime in 2006, in which present chief minister-cum-finance minister B S Yeddyurappa was the deputy chief minister-cum-finance minister, the state government had come with an offer of making a deposit of Rs 18,000 in the name of the girl child born in below poverty line (BPL) families in rural areas which would be given to the girl when she reaches 18 years in the form of a lumpsum contribution of Rs 1 lac.
               
The scheme was aimed at discouraging female infantricide, encourage education to the girls and usher in overall change in the attitude of people towards girls. The government had stipulated that the benefit of the Bhagyalkshmi scheme would be available to two girls born in a poor family only if the parents sent the girls to schools without any disruption in studies. The initial amount of the deposit was enhanced to ensure that the girls would get a purse of Rs 1 lac upon turning 18 years of age.
               
Yeddyurappa after becoming the chief minister under the BJP government in 2008, had modified the scheme to provide for distribution of bonds from the Life Insurance Corporation of India to the beneficiaries of the Bhagyalakshmi scheme.

The government had also offered free medical treatment to the girls and their families under the Yeshaswini health insurance scheme.
               
The Yedddyurappa regime has now decided to distribute sarees to the mothers of the beneficiary girls.
 

Sarees to be distributed in Davangere on Oct 14
 
Announcing the government’s plans for distribution of sarees to the mothers of the girls covered under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme, state’s newly appointed women and child development minister C C Patil said the programme would be launched in Davangere district on October 14.

The chief minister himself would be distributing the LIC bonds and sarees to the mothers of beneficiaries at Davangere. The cost of each sari would Rs 220 each.

In the coming days, the department has decided to place orders with the state Handloom Development Corporation to supply sarees, he said pointing out that it would also help the handloom weavers.
 

Function in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi on Oct 19 and 20
 
The minister said the programme would be held in Dakshina Kannada district (October 19), Udupi (October 20), Shimoga (October 22), Gulbarga (October 25), Yadgir (October 26), Gadag (October 29) and Belgaum (October 30).

Later, the programme would be launched in other districts in a phased manner, he said.

Asked whether the government had planned the programme keeping in mind the coming taluk and zilla panchayat elections, Patil said there was one or the other election after the BJP came to power in May 2008 and the government programmes had to go on.

''We cannot shelve our social welfare and developmental progrmames merely because of the elections,” he said pointing out that government will have to carry on with its work.

So far bonds of a total value of Rs 1090 crore had been distributed tofamilies.
 

Chairperson for Women’s Commission soon
 
Many beneficiaries in districts in the state are waiting for the bonds for the last one year.

He said the government has also decided to construct a Bal Bhavan in Gadag at a cost of Rs one crore. The chief minister has agreed to release the necessary money for the project, he said.

Patil said the government would shortly appoint a chairperson for the Karnataka State Commission for Women. Other suitable persons would also be appointed as members, he said.