Karnali shelves flagship girls’ savings scheme, leaving 11,000 beneficiaries in limbo

Karnali Province's ambitious social protection program, 'Bank Account for Every Daughter, Lifetime Security,' faces an uncertain future after being excluded from the provincial government's budget for the next fiscal year. This move has left more than 11,000 girls enrolled in the scheme in limbo.

The program, launched in fiscal year 2019-20, aimed to foster gender equality, combat child marriage, and support girls' education by providing long-term financial security. It involved opening bank accounts for newborn girls and depositing funds regularly until they reached age 20, with the goal of accumulating Rs120,500 per beneficiary. However, the provincial government has not released funds to local governments for the past four years, despite the program remaining formally in place.

“

Without a clear decision from the government, the program has not been included in next year’s budget. We still don’t know how the revised model will be implemented.

Officials from the Ministry of Social Development acknowledge they have collected data on enrollment and required budgets. Yet, without a clear government decision, the program's future and the implementation of a promised revised model remain unclear. "Without a clear decision from the government, the program has not been included in next year’s budget. We still don’t know how the revised model will be implemented," said Sunita Paudel, a women's development officer.

Provincial Assembly member Kalyani Khadka criticized the government's decision to halt the program without consulting women lawmakers. She argued that such initiatives, crucial for improving girls' access to higher education and encouraging delayed marriage, should not be discontinued without their input. Khadka and other women lawmakers have urged the chief minister to resume the program by formulating necessary procedures.

“

Programmes aimed at improving the lives of women should not be discontinued without involving women representatives in the discussion. We have urged the chief minister and the concerned authorities to immediately formulate the necessary procedures and resume the programme.