SURKHET, May 28: Launched with the aim of ending all forms of violence against girls and providing access to minimum secondary education, the ‘Bank Account for Daughters, for Secure Life’ program has been stalled. This program was implemented with the aim of depositing Rs 1,000 first after opening bank accounts for all girl children born after 17 July, 2019 and then depositing Rs 500 monthly afterwards.

On 16th December, 2014, the then chief minister (CM) Mahendra Bahadur Shahi initiated the program by depositing money in the bank accounts of two girl children of Khandachakra Municipality in Kalikot. 

In the fiscal year 2019/20, Rs 38.4 million and in the year 2020/21, Rs 60 million were deposited in the accounts of 11,415 daughters of Karnali Province through the local governments. After that, the province government did not allocate any budget for this program. Taking their cue from the provincial government, some local governments, too, had started depositing money in the bank accounts of girl children in their areas. 

Maina BK, deputy mayor of Gurbhakot Municipality, said that the discontinuation of the program, which was considered effective for girls, has caused dissatisfaction at the local level. 

“The amount that the provincial government used to deposit monthly through the local government has been stopped for two years,” Deputy Mayor BK said, “The beneficiaries come to the municipality daily, asking why the amount was not being deposited.” 

She said that the province government should continue the program. “Those who gave birth to only daughters were happy because of the program. This had also helped lower gender discrimination including abortion, and girls had access to education.” 

She said that even though the province government did not continue the program, the process of opening the accounts of daughters did not stop. “While opening such a bank account, the municipality’s recommendation is crucial, and even now, parents have been coming to open accounts continuously,” she said, “The program should be resumed from the upcoming fiscal year.” 

In the procedures made by the province government, the purpose of this program is to prevent violence against girls, female infanticide, enhance their access to minimum secondary level education, end gender discrimination, and prevent child marriage.

Anita Gyawali, head of the Social Development Division under the provincial Ministry of Social Development, said that since the start of the program, the said money was deposited in the bank accounts of girl children for only two years. 

“In the fiscal year when the program was implemented, we deposited Rs 38.4 million and Rs 60 million in the next fiscal year through the local governments in the accounts of 11, 415 daughters,” Gyawali said. 

Accounts of 41,597 girls had been opened by the end of June last year, according to the provincial Ministry of Social Development. This data pertains to only 58 of the total 79 local governments in Karnali Province as 21 local governments in the province have not participated in the program. 

“By the end of June last year, the details of the opening of 41,697 girls’ accounts had arrived,” she said, “After the government stopped allocating the budget, we also stopped asking for details through the local level.” 

It was estimated that the liability of the province government for 20 years through the program would reach about Rs 1.40 billion. According to the procedure, the money deposited in the names of girl children can be withdrawn only after they reach the age of 20. 

In the procedure, it was said that if the daughter of the account holder dies, has a severe illness or severe disability, if a parent or guardian dies and is unable to continue or complete school education due to financial difficulties, the amount can be withdrawn based on the recommendation of the local governments. 

 
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