Delhi Ladli Scheme 2008: A Parental Perspective

Abstract

An exploratory study to assess the knowledge and utilization of ‘Ladli scheme 2008’ among parents of girl child who are eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme in a selected community of Delhi with a view to develop Information Guidelines was conducted. The main objectives of the study were to (i) Identify the parents of girl child who are eligible to avail the benefits of ‘Ladli scheme 2008’. (ii) Assess the knowledge and utilization of ‘Ladli scheme 2008’ among parents of girl child who are eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme.(iii) Develop information guidelines on knowledge and utilization of ‘Ladli scheme 2008’ for parents of girl child who are eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme.(iv) Seek relationship between knowledge about Ladli scheme among eligible parents of girl child and the selected factors: (a) Gender of the parent, (b) Number of daughters in the family, (c) Awareness about Ladli scheme and (d) Utilization of Ladli scheme. The conceptual framework for the present study is based on Ronald Anderson’s Behavioral Model. A quantitative research approach was used for the study. A structured interview schedule was prepared. The reliability of the tool was established by using KR-20 formula and was found to be 0.85. The study was conducted at Wazirpur village, Delhi from 12th December, 2011 to 25th December, 2011. The eligible parents of girl child who met the study inclusion criteria were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data gathered was analyzed and interpreted using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that majority of the eligible parents were aware about the existence of Delhi Ladli scheme and their eligibility to avail the benefits of the scheme but had inadequate knowledge about the Ladli scheme and the utilization of the same was also very low. There was a significant relationship between the knowledge about Ladli scheme and its awareness as well as its utilization among eligible parents of girl child. But there was no significant relationship between the knowledge about the Ladli scheme and other selected factors such as gender of the parent and number of daughters they possess. Guidelines were prepared based on the knowledge about Delhi Ladli scheme and was disseminated to the sample subjects. Similar studies could be conducted in various states of the country and the need of such beneficiary schemes could be verified so as to improve the vital statistics of the nation in terms of literacy, sex ratios, female foeticides etc.