preference. Evaluation of the _Apni Beti Apna Dhan_ scheme that was implemented in Haryana in 1994 is a case in point (see Section A3, Appendix).

Holla et al.’s (2007) evaluation of the scheme draws on pooled birth history data from the first two rounds of NFHS, and a difference-in-difference approach that uses variation in the eligibility criteria, and the implementation of the program in Haryana versus neighboring states. The results from the evaluation suggest that the program had a positive effect on the SRB (probably due to the cash payment that is made quickly after the female child’s birth). However, the positive effect of the program for girl children erodes over time despite the staggered payments that are promised if the girl remains alive, unmarried, and fulfills educational and health requirements by age 18. Vaccination rates for girl children did not improve following the initiation of the program, and as a result, the program had a negligible effect on improving child sex ratios.

Sinha and Yoong (2009) identify more successes of the program, but they also find that these successes were limited. They use pooled birth-history data from the NFHS, but from all three rounds (with three rounds of data they can evaluate outcomes for girls in the short and medium term), and a difference-in-difference approach that exploits variation in the eligibility criteria. Their evaluation results suggest that while beneficiary households were more likely to give birth to girls, and ensure their survival, there is mixed evidence on whether these girls saw improvements in their quality of life. Beneficiary households made more health investments in their young daughters, however this did not necessarily translate into better health status for the girls in the medium term. Furthermore, school-age girls in beneficiary households were not more likely to attend school than their counterparts in non-beneficiary households; however, if they did start attending school, they were more likely to continue attending school. The program does not have a clear, positive effect on mothers’ preference for girl children either.

# _China_

In 2000, China introduced a comprehensive program, titled “Care for Girls”, to reduce sex selection (see Section A2, Appendix). After setting up a pilot project in Anhui province in 2000, and then pilots in 24 other provinces in 2003-05, a national plan was developed for this program in 2005-06. The national plan focused on advocacy, providing family planning services, cracking down on sex determination and sex selective abortions, building monitoring and evaluation capacity, and providing benefits to families with only girls. The benefits component focused on providing financial and other assistance to parents in daughter-only families via low interest loans, social security benefits, and educational scholarships. For families to be eligible for benefits, they must meet strict criteria: they must have had only one child or two daughters (including adoptees), they must be girl-only families, one member of the couple must be sterilized, and the wife must be 45 years old or younger (Murphy 2014; Li 2007; Guo et al. 2016).

In some provinces, daughter-only families are partnered with local officials. The officials help the families by obtaining subsidies for school tuition and housing improvements, and microloans to start small businesses (Li 2007; Murphy 2014). In some provinces, parents with daughters are offered conditional benefits under schemes such as the Sunshine Education Assistance Project that was started in 2008. Under this program, families that fulfill the eligibility requirements are given 1,000 yuan per year for three years, conditional on the funds going to the girls’ high school education. Furthermore, these scholarships are provided to girls at public ceremonies to foster 27