Educating girls has a catalytic effect on every dimension of economic development including high productivity, faster growth, high economic gains and a step towards empowerment of women. Educated women are also observed to be strong positive role models for female children. Gender discrimination makes girls the first sacrificial victim to be withdrawn from school when times get tough, and it is a more relative disadvantage in SC or ST families. The article examines the causes of gender disparities in access to education and details the initiatives taken at the governmental and societal levels to address this issue.