The Government of India prioritises the welfare and empowerment of girls through various schemes and initiatives, focusing on education, health, and social inclusion. Several government programs aimed at improving the status of the girl child have been instrumental in ensuring gender equality and addressing challenges faced by young girls. In this article, learn about a few schemes for girl children.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched by the Government of India in 2015 with the primary goal of addressing issues such as gender-based discrimination, and low sex ratio at birth.
The scheme focuses on ensuring the survival, protection, and education of the girl child. It aims to change societal attitudes towards girls and promote their empowerment. The program operates in collaboration with various stakeholders at the national, state, and district levels, with a significant focus on awareness generation, advocacy, and improving the quality of education for girls.
BBBP has been instrumental in highlighting the need for better healthcare, nutrition, and education for girls, ensuring their equal participation in all sectors of life. With extensive campaigns and the use of digital platforms, the scheme seeks to encourage parents and communities to promote gender equality and invest in their daughters’ futures.
Launched in 2015 as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a small savings scheme designed to secure the future of a girl child. This is one of the most popular government schemes for girls.
Parents or legal guardians can open an account in the name of a girl child below the age of 10, contributing annually until she turns 21. The scheme offers an attractive interest rate, which is higher than other savings schemes, and also provides tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. The minimum annual investment in the SSA account is ₹250, and the maximum investment is ₹1.5 lakh per annum. The rate of interest is 8.2% per annum, effective from October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, with yearly compounding.
The primary objective of SSY is to promote savings for the education and marriage expenses of the girl child. The scheme also serves as a financial tool that fosters financial literacy and discipline. Its benefits are not just limited to financial security but also contribute to empowering the girl child by encouraging parents to invest in their future. The SSY has been widely embraced across India due to its attractive returns and government backing.
Launched in 1997, the Balika Samriddhi Yojana aimed to improve the status of girls, especially in rural areas, by encouraging education and delaying marriage.
Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to the girl child and her family at key stages of her education. ₹500 is provided to the parents on the birth of a girl child. The girl child is provided an annual scholarship ranging from ₹300 to ₹1,000 until she completes her education from 1st to 10th standard.
The scheme targeted economically disadvantaged families and focused on ensuring that girls from such backgrounds receive financial support to continue their studies.
The CBSE Udaan Scheme is an initiative by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) designed to provide access to quality education for girls, particularly in science and mathematics.
The scheme aims to encourage female students to take up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects, offering free online resources and study material for girls from classes 9 to 12.
It also provides training and mentoring, helping bridge the gap for girls who lack access to quality coaching. Through Udaan, CBSE helps meritorious girls from economically low backgrounds prepare for entrance exams to premier engineering and medical colleges. The annual family income of the student must be ₹6,00,000 or lower.
The National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE) was launched in 2008 to provide financial incentives for girls who complete their secondary education.
The scheme primarily targets girls from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, offering them financial assistance to encourage them to continue their studies. Under the scheme, girls who complete class 8 are given incentives to enrol and complete their secondary education (age 14 to 18 years).
The Ministry of Education deposits ₹3,000 into a Fixed Deposit (FD) account in the name of the girl child. The accumulated sum grows through high fixed deposit interest rates, forming an educational corpus. The funds can only be accessed when the girl turns 18, and premature withdrawals from the FD account are not allowed under this central government scheme.
Apart from these central government schemes for girl children, there are several other schemes from the state government as well to empower girl children and women. These programs have made significant strides in improving the quality of life for girls across the country, ensuring their equal participation in society.
Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.
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