The Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY) was unveiled by the Central Government in the year 1997. This was done under the blueprint for Women & Child Development for enabling empowerment of girl children in the country. It is known to be a major initiative for supporting the education and birth of the girl child. The Balika Samriddhi Yojana will be providing coverage for all girl children in families who are unfortunately below the poverty line (BPL) as per the definition of the Government of India throughout urban and rural zones, born on or after 15th August 1997.
Key Features of Balika Samriddhi Yojana
There are several objectives behind this scheme including the following:
- Ushering positivity and change into the mindset of any family, community, and society towards the girl child and mother alike.
- Safeguarding and enhancing the retention and enrolment of girls in schools.
- Suitably raising girl children until they reach legal marriageable age.
- Helping girl children and giving ample motivation for pursuing income-generating opportunities for more welfare.
Major Aspects Behind Balika Samriddhi Yojana
There are several major features linked to the Balika Samriddhi Yojana scheme. Initially, there were incentives, i.e. Rs. 500 as a gift to the mother upon delivering a girl child. Annual scholarships were given for the education of the girl child by the Government as well. The benefits and features were revamped over 1999-2000 for making sure that girls get more prominent benefits. All eligible girl children under the BSY will now get the following benefits:
- Rs. 500 as a grant amount after birth.
- Annual scholarships for girls born on/after 15th of August, 1997 and with registration under BSY.
- Scholarship amounts will be Rs. 300 for each class (per annum) between Classes I-III. They will be Rs. 500 for Class IV and Rs. 600 for Class V alongside.
- Scholarship amounts will be Rs. 700 for every class between Classes VI-VII and Rs. 800 for Class VIII.
- They will be Rs. 1,000 for Classes IX to X.
Scheme Eligibility
- For those residing in rural zones, identified families under the BPL category based upon Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana will be the target group.
- For those residing in urban areas, families in urban slums, irrespective of identification, will be covered under BSY.
- Families working as vegetable and fruit sellers, rag-pickers, payment vendors, and others will have coverage.
- Surveys are held for checking family BPL and lists are made under the TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System).
- Girl children born on or after 15th August 1997 will be benefited, who belong to BPL families.
- All benefits are given to two girl children from each family, irrespective of the number of children in the family itself.
How to Apply for Balika Samriddhi Yojana Online?
There is a system of Balika Samriddhi Yojana online applying that you should know more about. ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) executes BSY in rural zones while Health Department professionals implement the same in urban areas. Families should follow these vital steps:
- Application forms are available with Anganwadi Workers in rural zones and Health Department functionaries. You can also get the forms online but there are different forms for beneficiaries in urban and rural zones.
- The form should be filled up with all the details needed.
- Submit the form on the same platform where you obtained it.
Documents Required for BSY
There are several documents needed for applicants. These include the following:
- Birth certificate of girl child issued by the hospital where she was born or issued by the Government itself.
- Address proof of legal guardian or parents- This includes any of the IDs from driving license, passport, telephone or electricity bill, ration card, voter ID card, or any other proof from the Government of India.
- Identity proof of legal guardian or parents- These include PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID Card, Matriculation Certificate, or any other Government of India certificate for validation of the girl child’s identity.
Some Other Factors to be Kept in Mind
- Amount deposit will be into an interest-carrying account opened in favor of the girl child who is the beneficiary.
- The amount should be earning the highest possible interest.
- The beneficiary girl child should seek out savings options like NSC or PPF.
- A portion from the post-birth grant and educational scholarship may be used for paying the premium on an insurance policy in the name of a girl child under Bhagyashri Balika Kalyan Bima Yojana. The amount accrued under the scholarship may be used for buying uniforms, textbooks, and soon. The remaining amount will be deposited into the beneficiary account.
- When the girl child reaches the age of 18 and gets the certificate from the Municipality/Gram Panchayat for being unmarried, the post office/bank will be authorized for enabling the withdrawal of funds in the interest-carrying account.
- If the girl gets married before 18, she will have to miss the annual scholarship amount and accrued interest. She will only get the post-birth grant of Rs. 500 with interest accrued.
- If there is the unfortunate demise of the girl child before attaining 18 years of age, the whole accumulated amount will be withdrawn.
Ever since it launched, Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY) has benefited a whopping 50,000 people. The scheme is a good move for ensuring better education and opportunities for girl children across the country. The application procedure is quite simple too.