With the aim of changing the social attitude towards the girl children in India and uplifting their standing in society, a range of girl child schemes have been initiated across India. Such schemes may be broadly classified into two categories – Central Government Schemes and State Government Schemes.
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Central Government sponsored girl child schemes are administered by the central government and can be availed by the girl child and their parents irrespective of which part of India they reside in. The following are key features of the most important central government girl child schemes in India:
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a central government scheme for girl child schemes which is applicable throughout the country. The key objective of this scheme is to save the girl child from social ills such as gender-biased abortions and advance the education of girl children all over the country.
The Beti Bachao Bet Padhao yojana was initially targeted at districts that were recognized to have low sex ratio i.e. fewer female children as compared to male children but was later expanded to include other parts of the country as well. This is primarily an education-based initiative to help change social attitudes and does not involve direct cash transfer.
Key objectives of this social welfare scheme for girl child include:
Read more: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: Initiative, Features, Eligibility, How to Apply
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a special government-backed savings scheme that features a girl child as the primary account holder while the parent/legal guardian is a joint holder of the account. SSY account can be opened before the girl child is 10 years old and contributions need to be made for 15 years after opening the account.
The following are some of the key features and benefits of investments made into a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account:
Know more about the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Calculator: How to Calculate, Formula, Maturity Value & Installments Chart
The Balika Samriddhi Yojana is a scholarship scheme designed to provide financial support to young girls and their mothers who are below the poverty line. The key objective of the scheme is to improve their status in society, increase the marriageable age of girls and improve the enrollment as well as retention of girls in schools.
Applicants can download the Balika Samriddhi Yojana Forms for free from the Women & Child Development Department website.
Know More: Balika Samridhi Yojana (BSY): Factors, Eligibility, Coverage & Application Procedure
The CBSE Udaan scheme for girls is administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education through the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The focus of this scheme is to increase the enrollment of girls in prestigious engineering and technical colleges across India.
The scheme includes efforts that are made in order to enrich the learning experience with special focus of girl students who are from the economically backward sections of society.
The following are the key features of the CBSE Udaan Scheme:
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The following are key eligibility criteria for enrolment in the Udaan Scheme:
Applicants of this scheme can do so through their respective CBSE-affiliated schools. To know more you can visit the Official CBSE Udaan Scheme page
The National Scheme of Incentive to girls for secondary education scheme is a pan India scheme managed by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. It is primarily for the benefit of girls belonging to the backward classes of India. Once an eligible girl student has been selected, Rs. 3000 is deposited as a fixed deposit on her behalf. This amount can be withdrawn with interest after the girl student passes the class 10th exam and completes the age of 18 years.
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In addition to central government schemes, every state in India also has its own scheme for girl child welfare. The following are some of the most well-known state-wise girl child schemes in India:
Ladli Scheme of Haryana is sponsored by the Haryana government to enhance the status of the girl child in society. The scheme is additionally focused on ensuring that the mindset of society and attitude towards the girl child is changed such that social ills including female foeticide are eliminated. The scheme was introduced by the Haryana State Government on 20th August 2015.
This is a cash incentive scheme that provides a payout of Rs. 5000 annually for a period of 5 years to families with a second girl child born on the after 20th August 2015. This money is deposited in a Kisan Vikas Patra jointly in the name of the 2nd girl child and the mother/father/legal guardian. These deposits along with interest will be released after the 2nd girl child is 18 years old.
Forms to apply for the Ladli Scheme of Haryana can be availed from the nearby Aganwadi Centres. The form has to be filled out and submitted with the Aganwadi worker or Health Staff of the local area along with birth certificates of both the 1st and 2nd girl children. You can also download the Ladli Scheme Application Form from the official government website
The Madhya Pradesh Ladli Laxmi Yojana is a government-sponsored girl child scheme that seeks to improve the status of girl children and women in the state. The plan was introduced in 2006 and aims to prevent social ills such as child marriage and female foeticide. Subsequent to approval of beneficiary, Rs. 6000 worth of National Saving Certificates will be purchased every year for the first 5 years in the name of the beneficiary.
Out of this investment, Rs. 2000 will be invested after the girl child is admitted in 6th class and subsequently Rs. 4000 will be invested in the admission of a girl in 9th class.
Know more about the Ladli Laxmi Yojana
The form to sign up for the Ladli Laxmi Yojana can be obtained from the local Anganwadi Centre of their village/locality in which the household is located. The form must be filled out and submitted to the Anganwadi Centre of their village/locality within 1 year of birth of the girl child along with copies of applicable documents.
Bhagyashree Scheme is a Karnataka government scheme designed to promote the birth of girl child among families below the poverty line. The financial assistance to the girl child is provided some key criteria have been met.
The girl child receives health insurance cover up to a maximum of Rs. 25,000 annually. The girl child receives an annual scholarship of Rs. 300 to Rs. 1000 up to class 10th.
Read More about Karnataka Bhagyashree Scheme
The Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme is a Government of Maharashtra promoted scheme that is designed to help improve the condition of girl child among the BPL and other weaker sections of society.
The girl child’s mother receives Rs. 5000 every year for the first 5 years after the birth of the girl child. Subsequently, financial aid of Rs. 2500 per year is provided till the girl child is enrolled in 5th class.
After this, the financial aid is increased to Rs. 3000 per year till the girl child is enrolled in class 12. Once she attains the age of 18 years, she will receive Rs. 1 lakh annually for her education. Further payouts may be available to the girl child for further studies.
The application form for the Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme can be obtained from the local Anganwadi and submitted with the local Anganwadi worker along with all the applicable documents such as the birth certificate of the girl child. You can also get further details about this girl child scheme and download the Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme Application Form from the Maharashtra government official website.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa of West Bengal is a state initiative for girl child schemes designed to improve the status as well as the well-being of girls especially those from weaker socio-economic classes. This scheme is implemented by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal in the form of conditional cash transfers.
The Kanyashree scholarship is Rs. 750 per annum for girls between the age of 13 and 18 years along with a one-time grant of Rs. 25,000 for girls between the ages of 18 and 19 years.
A girl student is eligible for benefits under the Kanyashree Prakalpa subject to the following criteria:
A girl child can apply for the annual scholarship under this scheme as soon as they are 13 years old, provided they are enrolled in class 8 or higher. The one-time grant application under Kanyashree Prakalpa can be made between the ages of 18 and 19 years.
The Kanyashree scheme application form can be availed from the institution where the girl child is studying. This needs to be filled out and submitted along with documents such as birth certificate, a declaration that the applicant is unmarried along with an annual income statement confirming that family income is Rs. 1.2 lakh annually or less.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa K1 Application Form and the Kanyashree Prakalpa K2 Application Form can both be downloaded from various online sources too.
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