Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the PANKH Abhiyan under the ‘Beti
Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign on the occasion of National Girl Child Day on
Sunday, ANI reported.

PANKH, wherein P stands for protection, A stands for
awareness of their rights, N stands for nutrition, K stands for knowledge so
they progress in every field and H stands for health, will continue for a year.
The campaign focuses on simple issues that girls must be entitled to, but are
often denied their basic rights.

Chouhan said that when
he assumed the post of MLA, he introduced a scheme for the wedding of girls
from poor families so that it is not considered a burden. When he became the
Chief Minister, his government launched the Ladli Laxmi Yojana in 2007, which provides
financial assistance to girls, covering their educational expenses.

Last week, Chouhan inaugurated
‘Samman’, a fortnight-long public awareness drive that rose the issue of crimes
against women. During the inauguration, he called on for a national debate on
raising the minimum age of women for marriage.

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Women in India are
allowed to get married once they turn 18, while the minimum age for men stands
at 21. Chouhan contended that the minimum age for women should also be
increased to 21 years.