The Ladli Laxmi Yojana, which was launched on the initiative of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan three-and-a-half-years ago has gained tremendous popularity. Accepting the success of the innovative scheme, the entire nation has lauded it. States like Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have even implemented the scheme. In Madhya Pradesh, 5 lakh 53 thousand 523 girls have got the benefit of Ladli Laxmi Yojana so far. Under the scheme, National Savings Certificates worth Rs 6 thousand purchased in the name of the beneficiary girl consecutively for 5 years that amounts to a total of Rs 30 thousand. The girl is given Rs 2000 on getting admission in class VI, Rs 4 thousand on admission in class IX and Rs 7500 on being admitted to class XI. After getting admission in class XI, the girl is given Rs 200 per month for the next two years. The rest of about Rs one lakh 18 thousand in lump sum will be given to the girl after attaining the age of 21 years or appearing in class XII exams with the condition that girl is married off only after the age of 18 years. The state government, which is also leaving no stone unturned to give a legal shape to the scheme, has met with tremendous success in its implementation. It was the result of better and effective implementation of the scheme that people's concept about a girl's birth in their family changed completely, the rate of female foeticide came down appreciably and sex ratio rate also improved a lot apart from improvement in the education and health status of girls in the state. The state government, which is concerned about women's empowerment and better future of girls, has been reviewing the scheme for further betterment. Not only this, but also Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been taking personal interest in the scheme's implementation and reviews it from time to time. This is reason why Chief Minister Chouhan, who has laid the foundation of better future of 5.50 lakh girls, has become famous as "Mama" (maternal uncle) among children. Jabalpur district leads in the implementation of Ladli Laxmi Yojana by benefiting 26 thousand 240 girls so far followed by Chhindwara district where 26 thousand 45 girls have been benefited under the scheme. Here is an example of a major aspect of the scheme's success. Recently, Shakuntala, wife of Gangaram Sahu of Kamla Nehru Ward in Jabalpur gave birth to her first girl child in the government hospital. The predicament of Gangaram and Shakuntala was how to inform Gangaram's mother about the birth of girl child and not a boy since they apprehended that "Mataji" will not be amused by this news as she is a conservative woman. Gangaram is a labourer with limited income. Somehow, the news of a girl child's birth reached the mother-in-law of Shakuntala and when anganwadi workers reached her house three days after the girl child's birth, they observed that the old woman was not happy since she kept quiet when the workers congratulated her. Meanwhile, Shakuntala recalled what once the aganwadi workers had told her about Ladli Laxmi Yojana. When the anganwadi workers arrived at the bedside of Shakuntala, they congratulated her on the birth of the girl child and showered affection on the girl. The workers told Gangaram that the girls is his first child and benefit of Ladli Laxmi Yojana can be availed up to two children. This eased the burden from the minds of Gangaram and Shakuntala, whose worries about the upbringing of the girls had vanished completely with the news that the government will bear all the major expenses relating to the girl up to her marriage. When Mataji got this information, a smile emerged on her lips for the first time after the birth of the girl child. Addressing Gangaram, she said, "Our child is not doubt lucky, as she has become a Ladli Laxmi"