By Gokarna Paudel

Ghorahi, Mar. 7 : Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan has transferred money to the accounts of daughters born after July 16, 2020 (Shrawan 1, 2077 BS).

The Sub-Metropolitan has strictly urged the local authorities of all the 19 Wards to further the process of creating bank accounts of new born baby girls born after that date.

The campaign, dubbed as ‘Smart Chhori’, was conceived to bring about a change in the way daughters are perceived in our society, according to Mayor Ghanashyam Pandey.

“Even to this day, family members shrug in dismissal when a mother conceives a baby girl. Parents should be proud of their daughters.

They should educate them, encourage them to be financially independent.

We hope to instill such feeling among the people of our society via Smart Chhori,” he added. Apart from providing monetary assistance and financial security for girls, the campaign, as per Pandey, also aims to prevent child marriage.

As of February 12, funds have been transferred to the accounts of five daughters in the Sub Metropolitan City. “Fund transfer has been delayed for now.

But the Ward offices are continuously working on creating bank accounts and soon all the daughters born after Shrawan will get Rs. 100 transferred to their accounts every month until they reach 20 years of age,” assured Information Officer of the Sub-Metropolitan Office, Baburam Neupane.

The service will be provided to no more than two daughters of a married couple.

In order to be eligible, parents must submit proof of relation, their daughters’ birth certificate, a description of the vaccines administered to the girls, and the guardians’ citizenships.

According to Maya Shrestha, Chief of the Women, Children and Social Welfare Development department of the Sub-Metropolitan office, about 1200 to 1500 baby girls are born every year within the area.

“Taking this into account, a budget of Rs 1.8 million to Rs 2 million has to be allocated every year,” added Shrestha.

The daughters who are now registered will only be able to receive the amount in a lump sum after reaching the age of 20.

Moreover, they will be eligible to withdraw the accumulated sum only if they remain unmarried until the age of 20, and should at least be enrolled in secondary education.

In case of untimely death, or discontinuation of academic study due to health issues, all the accumulated fund has to be returned to the Sub-Metropolitan.