Goa girls to get Rs.1 lakh to meet wedding expenses

As an initiative to reduce female foeticide in the state, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday launched a new scheme named 'Ladli Laxmi', under which women will get a sum of Rs.1 lakh to meet wedding expenses.

"One of the reasons behind female foeticide is the fact that parents have to spend money during their daughters' marriages. The Ladli Laxmi scheme aims to break that mindset by empowering women with Rs.1 lakh at the time of marriage," Parrikar told reporters here.

Goa government has fixed Rs.150 crore to facilitate the scheme that was first announced in the state budget.
Parrikar said around 20,000 women would get the benefit of the scheme in the state.

"The scheme is applicable from April 1. So those who have gotten married on or after that date can avail of this scheme," he said.

The scheme will be implemented under the governance of state's Women and Child Development Department and will be applicable for the residents of Goa only.

It is one of the several schemes for women listed in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's election manifesto.

The state has a attracting literacy rate of 87.40 but the sex ratio of 968:1000, which is little more than the national average of 940:1000.

According to the 2011 census, Goa ranks 11th in sex ratio, with Kerala at the top with a ratio of 1084:1000 and Daman and Diu at the bottom with 618:1000.

-With inputs from IANS

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