Civic body plans steps to keep girls in school

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has plans to replicate the Gujarat model to increase literacy among girl students in Mumbai. On the lines of the Vidyalaxmi Bond scheme, implemented by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in his state, the BMC’s education department is contemplating issuing fixed deposits (FD) bonds of Rs1,000 in the name of girl students who take admission to grade I in a civic school.

The girl would receive the bond amount, along with interest (Rs2000 totally) upon completion of grade VII.

Education committee chairman Dr Ram Barot said most girls in BMC schools are from poor families. “A lack of finance forces many girls to drop out of school and lend a hand in earning bread for the family,” he said. Barot said the girl could use the money to pursue her education up to grade X.

The dropout rate of girls in BMC schools is close to 30%. To ensure a higher retention rate, the BMC has already initiated a scheme wherein Re1 per day is given to girl students as an incentive to attend school.

The Vidyalaxmi Bond scheme was first initiated by Modi in 2002 in urban and rural areas of Gujarat where female literacy rates were low. The scheme was successful in lowering the dropout ratio.

An average 50,000 girls seek admission to grade one in BMC schools every year.