AP Assembly adopts girl child, healthcare Bills

The state Legislative Assembly has adopted the Andhra Pradesh Bangaru Talli Girl Child Promotion and Empowerment Bill 2013 that provides for payment of incentives to a girl child right from the time of her birth till she attains the age of 21 years.

The incentives totalling about Rs 1.55 lakh would be paid on achievement of certain milestones in the life of a girl born in economically backward households on or after May 1, 2013.

While an amount of Rs 2,500 will be paid at the time of birth, a sum of Rs 1 lakh would be paid after graduation. If the girl studies only up to 12th class, the amount paid would be Rs 50,000.

According to state government estimates, the funds required for the welfare scheme in the first year of implementation will be Rs 200 crore and will gradually increase to Rs 6,618 crore by 2034-35. The estimates are based on the consideration that 800,000 girls will be born in the state every year.

Rural service mandatory for doctors
The Assembly has also adopted a Bill amending the Andhra Pradesh Medical Practitioners Registration Act, 1968, that makes rural service for a year mandatory for medical graduates. The objective of the legislation is stated to be to provide quality health services in rural areas.