GoM to suggest modalities for AP girl child promotion bill

Andhra Pradesh government today constituted a nine-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to suggest modalities for the proposed AP Girl Child Promotion and Empowerment Bill, 2013.
The Council of Ministers that met on Friday last did not approve the draft legislation proposed by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and suggested constitution of a Group of Ministers to formulate necessary modalities.
Accordingly, the GoM was formed today with V Sunita Laxma Reddy, J Geetha, Galla Aruna Kumari, D K Aruna, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Pitani Satyanarayana, P Balaraju, E Pratap Reddy and Kondru Murali Mohan as members.
Principal Secretary (Rural Development) Reddi Subrahmanyam will be the convenor of the body, an order issued by Chief Secretary P K Mohanty said.

"The GoM shall submit its report to the government at the earliest," he added.
The Chief Minister announced the girl child protection scheme 'Bangaru Talli' in May under which a specific amount of money would be distributed to families belonging to SC, ST, BC and minorities where a new girl child is born.

The money distribution would continue till the girl completes her graduation, as per the scheme announced by the Chief Minister.
Kiran Kumar wanted to give legal sanctity to the scheme by enacting a legislation during the ongoing Budget session.
The scheme, however, landed in controversy with many ministers objecting to it and some of them even questioned the need for granting legal status to the scheme.

A determined Chief Minister, however, announced at the Assembly Business Advisory Committee meeting here today that the government would move the proposed Bill in the current session itself.
Now, the onus is on the Group of Ministers to complete the task and ready the draft Bill before the Budget session concludes on June 21.