Five top govt schemes aiding education and well-being of girls in India
National Girl Child Day:
In recent years, the Indian government has developed many initiatives and scholarship programs to encourage female children to pursue their education. Every year on January 24, India honors National Girl Child Day to create awareness about the importance of education, rights, and health for girl children.
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‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ is a major scheme that has grown in popularity in recent years. On the occasion of National Girl Child Day, we look at the top 5 lesser-known programs available to girls for education and other well-being. The majority of these schemes provide tax breaks as well as lower interest rates.
1. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) scheme, launched on January 22, 2015, in Panipat, Haryana, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims at the betterment of the girl child in the country by abolishing sex determination and gender discrimination, providing protection for girls, and encouraging higher participation of girls in education and other fields. Under this scheme, parents or legal guardians can open a savings account for their girl child below the age of 10 years, and the account can be operated until she turns 21 years old. The scheme offers attractive interest rates and tax benefits to encourage parents to save for their daughter’s future. A Sukanya Samriddhi Account can be opened in a bank for a girl child with a minimum deposit of Rs 250 and a maximum deposit of Rs 1.5 Lakh per fiscal year. Accounts can be opened in the name of a girl child until she reaches the age of 10 years. The maturity period is 21 years, or until the girl is married after attaining the age of 18 years. SSY has an annual interest rate of 7.6 percent.
2. CBSE Udaan scheme
The program was introduced in 2014 by the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), a department of the Department for Human Resources Development (MHRD), with the aim of encouraging female students to enroll in higher education programs. Splits. between the Abitur exams and the engineering exams. The program provides financial aid to students who qualify for the Advanced Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and enroll in engineering programs at IIT and other leading engineering schools. The program aims to empower and expand the number of female engineers. If a beneficiary student obtains a place at an IIT or NIT or other centrally funded technical college and achieves at least 75% of Udaan grades, he is eligible for financial support in the form of tuition fees, entrance fees, and accommodation. Costs. Any Indian girl whose family income is less than Rs 6,000 is eligible for the scheme. To help students prepare for the engineering entrance exams and ensure success in this field, the Udaan program also offers online resources and mentoring. The program has been successful in helping to increase the number of female students enrolled in prestigious engineering colleges across India.
3. Dhanalakshmi scheme
Women and Child Development Organizations in India launched the scheme in 2008. An initial cash incentive of Rs 5,000 is available to all girl children born after November 8, 2008, who are registered in the program and are governed by the government. The girl’s family received a total of Rs. 5,750 as a financial incentive to send the girl to school until the eighth grade. The program aims to increase female students’ educational opportunities and close the gender gap in enrollment and literacy rates. Additionally, it offers financial support to families who are struggling financially and are unable to pay for their daughters’ education.
4. National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education
Through this scheme, the Ministry of Education aims to promote the enrolment of girl children in the age group of 14-18 at the secondary stage, especially those who passed Class VIII, and to encourage the secondary education of such girls. A sum of Rs 3000 is deposited in the name of eligible unmarried girls as a fixed deposit on enrolment in class IX. They are entitled to withdraw it, along with interest, upon turning 18 and passing the Class X examination, provided that they have attended at least 75% of the classes. The program also provides for a withdrawal of the amount with interest after the girl student completes her Class X and turns 18 years old.
The program was started in 2008 and is available to all girls from SC/ST communities who complete class VIII as well as all girls (SC/ST or not) who complete class VIII at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and then enroll in class IX at State/UT Government, Government-aided, and Local Body schools.
5. Balika Samridhi Yojana
The Balika Samriddhi Yojana, which aims to improve the general status of the girl child and bring about a positive shift in family and community attitudes, was introduced on October 2, 1997, to coincide with the celebration of Gandhi Jayanti that year. The program covers two girl children in a family that is below the poverty line as determined by the Indian government and who were born on or after August 15, 1997. BMS is given as one time grant of Rs 500/- to a mother giving birth to a girl child of B.P.L. families.