BIRGUNJ: Inaugurating the “Daughter Education Insurance” scheme under “Beti Padhau Beti Bachau” campaign launched by Province-2 government, President Bidya Devi Bhandari said that dreams of prosperity can materialise only after the majority of females in Nepal are empowered and are able to enjoy rights guaranteed by the constitution.

“It is sad that discrimination against women still prevails in our social behaviour and rituals,” the President said. “ I believe the insurance scheme will root out the regressive social policy of considering girl education as a sunk cost but not investment.”

Also marking the beginning of the scheme, President Bhandari handed over insurance vouchers to guardians of 24 newborn baby-girls of Birgunj Metropolitan City.

According to Province-2 Chief Minister Lal Babu Raut, guardians will receive Rs 100,000 as education insurance annuity after their daughters turn 20 years. Likewise, financial partner in the scheme, Prabhu Bank, is expected to provide an additional amount of Rs 25,000, the CM added.

“Moreover, the provincial government is also mulling to implement a 50 per cent quota for females through bylaws to not only aid their education but also to help them secure placements,” CM Raut said.

The Province-2 government has allocated Rs 890 million for “Beti Padhau Beti Bachau” campaign in the fiscal year 2018/19.