Special financial incentive schemes for the girl child in India

In order to improve the survival and welfare of girls and to reverse the distorted sex ratio at birth, both the national and state governments have launched special financial incentive schemes for girls. Though most of these conditional cash transfer schemes are good steps to enhance the status of girls, very little is known about their implementation and effectiveness. As an input into the XII plan formulation processes, the Planning Commission was keen to understand the usefulness of the incentive schemes in addressing the growing neglect of the girl child.