Gift For Her: Government Scheme for Girl Child

In order to change the attitude towards a girl child, various girl child-welfare schemes have been introduced by the Government of India, as well as State governments. Below mentioned are some of the welfare schemes that have been introduced by the Central Government.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Introduced with the key objective of protecting a girl child against the social evils like gender-biased abortions and promoting female education in the country, this scheme was introduced to target districts with low sex ratio (higher male children as compared to female child), but later was allowed for the whole country to avail. The key focus area of this scheme is to prevent gender biased abortions, ensuring survival and protection of the child through infancy and to ensure education and participation of the girl child.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

A part of the government backed ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ programme, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a programme for the better future of a girl child, facilitating through education and marriage expenses. As per the scheme, the account can be opened before the age of 10 years of age, continuing the contributions till 15 years after the account opening. Another special aspect is that the child will be the primary holder while the parents will be joint holders of the account. Some other benefits include;

• Flexible deposit option with initial deposit as low as Rs 1000 and ranging up to 1.5 lakh per annum.

• High fixed return rate currently stands at 8.5 per cent as of Q4 FY 18-19.

• Tax deduction benefit under section 80C of the IT Act 1961.

• A completely tax-exempt investment as the principal invested, maturity amount and interest earned are all exempt.

• Partial withdrawal option available for higher education of girl child.

• Can be availed across India at any PSU bank, India Post Office and at select private sector banks.

Balika Samriddhi Yojana

Designed to provide financial support to young girls and their mother who fall below the poverty line, the scheme’s key objective is improvement of their status within the society, raising the marriageable age for the girls and improve the enrollment and retention of girl students in schools. Available in both rural and urban areas, some of the benefits include;

• The mother of the girl child after birth of newborn receives a cash benefit of Rs 500.

• Can get annual scholarship from Rs 300 to 1000 till 10th standard.

• Balance amount can be withdrawn after the girl child turns 18 years old and is still unmarried.

CBSE Udaan Scheme

Administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education through the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, this scheme aims to increase the enrollment of girl students in prestigious engineering and technical colleges. It includes efforts to enrich the learning experience with special focus of girl students who are from the economically backward sections of society. However, to avail this scheme, one has to be enrolled in Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics stream in class 11th and 12th studying in a CBSE affiliated schools, annual family income should not exceed Rs 6 lakh. Also, one can apply through their respective CBSE affliated school.

National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education

A pan India scheme managed by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, it is primarily for the benefit of girls belonging to the backward classes. However, in order to be eligible for the scheme all girls from SC/ ST must pass class 8, also students hailing from other social classes can avail the scheme considered they have passed class 8 exams from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas; Girls must be less than 16 years of age. However, those who are married or enrolled in any other central government schemes like CBS, and NVS are not eligible. Rs 3000 is deposited as a fixed deposit on the behalf of the selected student. This amount can be withdrawn with interest after she passes the class 10th exam and completes the age of 18 years.

Dhanalakshmi Scheme

Launched to provide conditional cash incentives to low income families with girl child was introduced to certain blocks of Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and so on where there was a lower than average girl child sex ratio. The primary aim of this scheme was to promote education and improve well-being of the girl child belonging specially to economical and educational backward classes. However, the scheme was discontinued in April 2013 since there were various similar state-specific girl child welfare schemes which were in effect at that time.