National Girl Child Day 2024: Why the event is celebrated on January 24? History, theme and significance
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child). National Girl Child Day was established by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008. Since then, every year the day has been celebrated across India with a common annual theme.
The move aimed to acknowledge the unique challenges faced by girls in a society grappling with gender inequality, education limitations, school dropouts, healthcare, child marriage and gender-based violence. The government has not announced any theme for the celebration of National Girl Child Day 2024 till date. Notably, 'Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow' was the theme for 2019.
In 2020, the theme was 'My voice, Our Common Future'. 'Digital Generation, Our Generation' was the theme for National Girl Child Day in 2021 The National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on January 24 to mark 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 initiative jointly run by three ministries—the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Education— also aims to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio.
Celebrating the National Girl Child Day annually has mainly three objectives: Promoting Gender Equality: The initiative aims to promote gender equality and challenge gender stereotypes that discriminate against girls. Empowering Girls: The National Girl Child Day aims to provide girls with the knowledge, tools, and chances they need to realize their full potential. Protecting Girl’s Rights: The initiative strives to safeguard girls against child marriage, malnutrition and gender-based
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