Every year on January 24, National Girl Child Day (NGCD) is being celebrated nationwide with an aim to engage the public at large in creating a positive environment that values the girl child. The National Girl Child Day also marks the anniversary of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 January 2015.

The main objective of the NGCD is to spread awareness among people about inequalities faced by girls in the country, promote awareness about the rights of girl children and increase awareness on the importance of female education, health, and nutrition.

To create wider awareness and for encouraging a participative spirit, all the States/UTs in India has conducted a five-day special campaign especially designed for public engagement upto the grass root level.

According to PIB, the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) willl be partnering in this campaign by organizing a national level event in its premise. This event brings out the creative imagination of children from Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in Delhi through a painting competition on the theme “Mere Viksit Bharat Ka Sapna/मेरे विकसित भारत का सपना”. The children from CCIs will also be contributing through a cultural program aligned with the campaign theme. It will also feature a unicycle performance, acclaimed at national and international level, by children from Shishu Mandir, Bangalore (curated by Boeing India), The event will conclude with an oath-taking ceremony to pledge against all gender biased discrimination.

The event will be attended by Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of WCD and Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Minister of State, Ministry of WCD who will felicitate and encourage the participants with their address. The estimated participation in these activities is around 250-300 individuals.

Further, the Ministry has encouraged the States and UTs to use the “My Bharat” Portal which offers a digital platform for sharing and information dissemination of various activities being undertaken for NGCD’ 2024.

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The 5-day special campaign incorporates novel ideas such as special Gram Sabha/ Mahila Sabha on CSR, oath-taking ceremonies/signature ceremonies, affixing BBBP stickers with messages on every visited house/public building/Panchayat office during door-to-door programs. Community sensitization programs such as workshops on menstrual hygiene are being held with the distribution of hygiene kits. Special emphasis is being placed on Plantation drives which denotes the importance of a Girl child.

It also involves school going children through Sports activities involving NYKS Volunteers in schools, programs with both government and private schools focusing on the value of the girl child, and competitions like posters/slogan-writing/drawing/wall painting/ science fairs and exhibitions in schools. Acknowledging and celebrating local champions at the district in the fields of education, sports, social welfare, and community mobilization are also made part of this campaign.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended support to the NGCD, “On National Girl Child Day, we salute the indomitable spirit and accomplishments of the Girl Child. We also recognise the rich potential of every girl child in all sectors. They are change-makers who make our nation and society better. Over the last decade, our government has been making many efforts to build a nation where every girl child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.”