New hope, plans for girl child: Rajnath Singh

Campaigning in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will introduce new plans for the girl child.

"Usually, when a girl is born, there is sadness in the family and, when a boy takes birth, then happiness see no bounds. But today I tell you, we will support the family no matter what," Singh said at the rally of party workers.

Singh also stressed on the fact that the day a girl is born, a special account will be opened in her name, and as she grows, the amount will increase until she is married, he said.

"When a girl child is born, she will begin with Rs. 50,000 in her account. When she reaches class 6 she will receive three thousand, class 8 five thousand, class 10 seven thousand and when she attains marriageable age 21 she will receive Rs.2 lakh in cash on that day" he said.

Singh also put his focus on other requirements that the state has been longing for including waiving off farmers' loans, free education for girls till graduation etc.

The first phase of polling was held on Saturday with a 64 percent voter turnout.

Voting for 67 constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh figuring in the second of the seven-phase assembly elections in the state ended on Wednesday.

A total of 720 candidates were in the fray as voting was held across 11 districts - Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Bareilly, Amroha, Pilibhit, Kheri, Shahjahanpur and Badaun.

Official figures regarding the voter turnout are yet to come out from the Election Commission.