Bhubaneswar, Sept. 3: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the Biju Kanya Ratna Yojana, aimed at ensuring the overall development of the girl child across the state.

Elaborating on the new scheme, Naveen said it would be implemented in Angul, Dhenkanal and Ganjam districts for a period of three years. Under the scheme, the women and child development department would mobilise the community and all stake holders to ensure the safe birth, survival and development of the girl child. "The goal of the scheme is to create an enabling environment for the survival and development of the girl child and also securing her dignity," he said.

The chief minister said the objectives of the scheme were to prohibit foetal sex determination, ensure the survival, health and nutrition of the girl child, ensure education and retention of the girl child in school, sensitise and mobilise the community and all stakeholders towards the value of the girl child and to take initiatives to encourage girls to express their views and to be heard. The scheme document and logo of Biju Kanya Ratna Yojana were launched on the occasion.

Naveen also dedicated 1,000 anganwadi centres to the state. He launched a booklet on the 1,000 anganwadi centres and unveiled the uniform design of anganwadi buildings. The chief minister interacted with the anganwadi beneficiaries of Angul, Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj and Ganjam districts via video conferencing.

In his address, the chief minister highlighted the importance of anganwadi centres in delivering the services of integrated child development services in villages for delivery of services on health and nutrition for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls.

Naveen said that of the total 71,306 anganwadi centres in the state, 31,175 are functioning from their own buildings while 15,650 are under construction. "It is planned to complete the construction of the remaining 24,481 anganwadi buildings by 2018-19," he said.

The highest number of anganwadi centres (114) will come up in Dhenkanal while Gajapati district will have only four such centres.

In another development, the proposed standard operating procedures for addressing the issue of gender-based violence in the state was discussed at a meeting chaired by development commissioner R. Balakrishnan.

Highlighting the need for implementing standard operating procedures effectively, Balakrishnan warned officials that anyone found lagging in following the standard operating procedures would be dealt with sternly.

Health and family welfare secretary Arati Ahuja said the guidelines for the standard operating procedures had been prepared based on cases of gender-based violence and suggestions from different sections of the society.