In India, the sex ratio at birth (SRB) is 896 females for every 1000 males. The big difference in the number of girls is not a normal occurrence, but rather the result of a patriarchal system in power.
Governments have taken heed, and over the last few decades or so, some commendable work has been undertaken to change the life of a girl child and to launch varied government schemes for a girl child.
Let us take a look at the top 10 government girl child schemes that seek to inspire India to love and nurture the girl child.
Here, we can look at the list of 10 investment plans for Girl child in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme in Panipat, Haryana, on January 22, 2015. The primary aim of this program is to protect girls from social problems such as gender-based abortions and to promote girl-child education throughout the world.
The BBBP is a holistic initiative in India that aims to solve the country's worsening Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women empowerment. On March 8, 2018, the Prime Minister of India initiated the All India Expansion of the BBBP in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, after observing an improving trend in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in 161 implementing districts.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Human Resource Development collaborated on it.
The BBBP Scheme is a Central Government-run scheme that provides 100 percent financial assistance to the District level component, with funds being directly transferred to the DC/account to ensure the Scheme's smooth running.
This is an educational program that aims to change socioeconomic attitudes and would not necessitate a cash payment right away.
The below are the primary objectives of this girl child welfare program:
– Preventing selective gender-based abortions
– Ensuring girl child safety and welfare in infancy
– Ensuring girl child education and inclusion
– Challenging gender stereotypes and promoting gender equity
– Providing a safe and stable atmosphere for girls
– Supporting girls' right to inherit property
Eligibility
The following provisions must be met to be considered for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme-
The Central Board of Secondary Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India, manages and administers the CBSE Udaan scheme for girls.
This program aims to increase the number of girls enrolled in prestigious engineering and technical colleges across India.
The Primary Features of the Scheme are-
– Free course material and online resources for girls in 11th and 12th grades, such as video instruction.
– Weekend virtual courses for girls in the 11th and 12th grades
– Peer education and career opportunities for deserving female students.
– Study assistance and clarification facilities via a toll-free number
– Consistent monitoring and tracking of students' progress.
Eligibility-
The Balika Samriddhi Yojana is a scholarship initiative that provides financial support to young girls and their families who live in poverty. The scheme's key aim is to raise girls' social status, increase their marriageable age, and increase enrolment as well as girls' enrolment for school studies.
This girl child benefit program is available in both urban and rural areas. Following the birth of a baby to a mother of a girl child, all qualifying beneficiaries are given a cash reward. Later, when still in school, a girl child will earn an annual scholarship ranging from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1000.
The girl will remove the remaining funds from the scheme until she reaches the age of 18. The application form for the Balika Samriddhi Yojana can be downloaded for free from the Women & Child Development Department's website.
Eligibility-
Dowry and other marriage costs are two of the most common causes of sexism against girls. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (Women Child Prosperity Account) is a government-sponsored savings program for parents of girl children.
The program helps parents to set aside money for their female child's potential college and marriage expenses. Accounts can be opened at any India Post office or any branch of a commercial bank that has been approved by the central government.
To date, 1.26 crore accounts have been opened under this program, totaling approximately 20,000 crores. This scheme has become a raging hit in less than three years.
Eligibility-
In 2011, Haryana had the worst sex ratio at birth in India, with 834 girls for every 1000 people. Various steps were taken by the state government to change the condition on the ground.
They initiated the Ladli scheme, which provides a financial reward of Rs. 5000/- every year for up to five years to all parents whose second girl child is born on or after August 20, 2005, regardless of caste, creed, religion, wages, or the number of sons.
In 2015, the Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government unveiled the “Kanya Kosh” project, which was a huge success. The scope of this scheme has been expanded, and it now includes the first sibling. When the first girl child is born, a total of Rs 21,000 will be deposited. After the girl reaches the age of 18, the balance will rise to Rs one lakh.
Eligibility-
The Department of School Education & Literacy, Human Resource Development Ministry, Government of India, runs a pan-India scheme to encourage girls to pursue secondary education.
The scheme is primarily intended to help girls from India's deprived classes and to enable them to complete their secondary education.
A deserving girl will receive Rs. 3000 as a fixed deposit on her behalf under the scheme, which she will withdraw with interest after she reaches the age of 18 and has completed her 10th-grade test.
Eligibility-
The Madhya Pradesh state government's "Ladli Laxmi Yojana" aims to improve the health and educational status of girls in the state. It aims to discourage female foeticide by instilling in people a good mindset toward girl puberty and avoiding child marriages.
After the beneficiary has been selected and authorized, National Saving Certificates worth Rs. 6000/- are acquired in their name continuously for five years.
The beneficiary receives Rs. 2000/- at the time of admission to 6th grade, Rs. 4000/- at the time of admission to 9th grade and the remaining balance is charged as a lump sum until the beneficiary reaches the age of 21 and appears in the 12th-grade test.
A key requirement for receiving the money at the age of 21 is that the girl has not been married until the age of 18.
Eligibility-
The Karnataka government's Bhagyashree Scheme encourages the birth of girls in low-income households.
The Karnataka government offers financial aid to girl children in the form of health care coverage up to a limit of Rs. 25,000 per year and an annual scholarship of Rs. 300 to Rs. 1000 up to class ten.
Eligibility-
Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree is a Maharashtra government program aimed at improving the lives of girls from low-income families and other marginalized groups.
The mother of a girl child gets Rs. 5000 per year for the first five years after the child is born under the system. Following that, the child's family receives financial assistance of Rs. 2500 per year before she is enrolled in 5th grade.
Following that, the financial assistance for the aforementioned girl child will be raised to Rs. 3000 a year before she enrolls in class 12. She is entitled to Rs. 1 lakh a year for her schooling until she reaches the age of 18.
Eligibility-
Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister's Girl Child Protection Scheme aims to prevent gender inequality by empowering and securing girl children's rights by direct government spending.
If the family only has one girl child, a sum of Rs. 50,000 is deposited in her name in the form of a fixed deposit with the Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited if the girl child is born on or after 01/08/2011.
If the family only has two female daughters, a 25,000 fixed deposit is opened in each of their names.
From the sixth year of deposit, the girl child receives an annual incentive of Rs.1800 to help her pay for her schooling. The deposit is extended every five years, and when the girl child reaches the age of 18, the balance invested, plus interest, is given to her. However, to receive this privilege, the girl child must sit for the public test for the tenth grade.
Eligibility
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1. Higher Interest Rates |
In comparison to other national and state banks, the interest rates on FDs and deposits in these schemes are higher. More money will be saved as a result of this. |
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2. Saving on Tax |
The related accounts of most government schemes are excluded from Income Tax. This guarantees tax-efficient savings, which will benefit the girl child in the long run. |
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3. Clear-Cut Terms and Conditions |
Every scheme's terms and conditions are plainly stated, leaving little room for speculation. The lock-in time prevents early withdrawals and assures that the funds are only used for the girl child's needs, such as marriage or higher education. |
In the past years, there have been several central government schemes for a single girl child, a saving scheme for a girl child, and all under govt schemes for a girl child in the country.
These schemes have been a vibrant part of assisting girls in a country spread, and state-specific view.