A look into the top 6 central government schemes 2024 specially designed for girls in India to help uplift the cause of their education and good health.
The girl child has often been a victim of discrimination since time immemorial in India. Thanks to the patriarchal society, men have always been more favored when it comes to providing opportunities for growth. In an effort to restore equality among the two genders after ages, the Indian government is now making continual attempts at creating and offering equitable opportunities to both boy and girl child in India.
Government Schemes for Girl Child in India – Detailed Overview
With a view to promoting the overall development of the girl child in the country, the government has come up with the following welfare schemes:
1. Balika Samridhi Yojana
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The scheme offers limited opportunity for saving to the parents of a girl child (newborns only). Here are some of its key features:
- Only a few designated banks are permitted to process the application under the scheme. One can easily open an account at a bank near them.
- The scheme can be availed only for two daughters in a family that must be classified as Below Poverty Line.
- At the time of birth of a girl child, Rs. 500 is offered under the scheme to the parents. When the child starts attending school, an amount ranging between Rs. 300 and Rs. 1000 is offered as scholarship annually. This amount will be provided until the child graduates class X.
2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
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The scheme was initiated by the Central Government with an aim to save the girl child in India from gender-based abortion as well as to promote their educational cause. As such, the scheme was first launched particularly in those parts of the country where the sex ratio was incredibly low. It is primarily an educational program particularly meant for the girl child and therefore does not include any fund transfer to the parents.
Key features of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme:
- Ensuring the inclusion of the girl child in the country’s educational system
- Promoting the right of girls in property inheritance
- Preventing gender-based abortion in the country
- Promoting gender equality in India
3. CBSE Udaan Scheme
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This scheme is run by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under the Ministry of Human Resources Development of the Government of India. This is one of those govt schemes for girl child that was initiated with the objective of increasing the enrolment of girl students in esteemed technical and engineering colleges in India. However, it is a must for girls to attend CBSE school to avail the following facilities under this scheme:
- Opportunities for mentoring and peer education among girls
- Continual progress record and observation of girl students
- Free course material and/or online resources for girl students, such as video literature in classes XI and XII
Eligibility Criteria for the Scheme:
- Only available for the girl students of CBSE-affiliated schools, studying in grades XI and XII in either Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry streams
- Selection of the girl child for the scheme is strictly based on merit
- Girls must be Indian citizens residing in India
- The annual family income of the student must be Rs. 600,000 or lower
4. Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana
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As the name suggests, this scheme has been initiated by the Chief Minister of a state keeping the interests of the parents of a girl child in India. The scheme is run by the state government of Bihar offering Rs. 2000 to the parents upon the birth of a girl child. This reward can be received upon producing the birth certificate of the child.
Eligibility Criteria for the Scheme:
- Only permanent residents of Bihar are eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme
- The applicant can collect the reward by contacting the Gram Panchayat or Zila Parishad, or the office of the Collector
- They can also apply at an Anganwadi center near them
- The applicant must be classified as belonging to Below Poverty Line
5. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
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One of the most popular government schemes for girls, this has been designed to offer savings opportunities to the parents of a girl child. Under this program, the parents can create a trust to deposit savings for use in the future towards the education and marriage of their daughters. Some of its key features are:
- Only one account can be opened per child
- Up to two accounts for two children in the family are allowed to be opened under the scheme (exceptions permissible for twins and triplets)
- The parents or guardians of a girl child below 10 years old can open the account
- The account is accessible from any post office or bank branch in the country
- Part of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao movement, furthering the cause of girl child education in the country
- A minimum of Rs. 250 must be deposited in the account and a maximum of Rs. 1,50,000 per annum
- The term of the account is 21 years from the date of opening of the account or up to the marriage of the girl child, whichever is earlier
- Maximum deposits allowed for a total of 15 years from the date of account opening
- Account can be closed before maturity in case of marriage of the girl child; however the girl must be 18 years old
- Partial withdrawal of up to 50% permissible after attainment of 18 years for the girl child
6. Ladli Lakshmi Yojana
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Under the Ladli Lakshmi Scheme, which was inaugurated in the year 2007 by the Madhya Pradesh state government, monetary aid of INR 6000 is offered to the newborn girl child every year from birth to 5 years of age. The yojana is initiated to promote the education of the girl child and provide them with a better future.
Key Features of Ladli Lakshmi Yojana:
- The scheme is available for parents of girl child who are non-taxpayers
- They must be permanent residents of Madhya Pradesh
- The scheme is available for people living under the poverty line
- The yojana is managed by the Government of Madhya Pradesh (Department of Women and Child Development)
- It aims to improve the sex ratio of girls and their education
Benefits of Ladli Lakshmi Yojana:
- The scheme offers a certificate of assurance of INR 1,43,000 to the parents of the girl child
- Out of that amount the scheme offers INR 2000 to a girl child when she reaches 6th standard in school
- It provides INR 4000 to the girl child when the child reaches 9th standard
- INR 6000 each is provided to the girl for her admission in standard 11th and 12th
- Further, the girl child receives an amount of INR 25,000 in two installments for pursuing her higher education or professional education
- Besides, INR 1 lakh is given to the girl child when she completes 21 years of age
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