Girls contribute an equal share in the future as much as boys do. They are equally responsible for the nation’s development. Thus, to make it possible, the government should ensure that each girl child can get an education. To make this possible, they have launched several schemes and programs and enable the nation’s growth.
Benefits of Government Schemes for Girl Child
Government schemes are helping in reducing female aborticide rates by showing that girl child is not a burden to the family. These schemes also help girls to become independent by the time they reach adulthood. Some of the benefits of the schemes are :
• Higher interest Rates
The interest rates on FDs and saving accounts are higher as compared to the other accounts. Thus helping in more savings.
• Transparent terms and condition
The Terms and Condition for these schemes are unambiguous and straight forward giving no scope for any misconception.
• Tax Saving
Most of the Government schemes are not liable for income tax from associated account.
Schemes by Central Government Schemes for Girl Child
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a Central Government Scheme launch by P.M. Narendra Modi in the year of 2015. The scheme launched with the initial charity of ₹100 crores.
Aim of the initiative:
• Prevention from gender discrimination
• Protection of girl child
• Giving education to the girl child
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a good investment plan for girl children below the age of 10 years to save for higher education or marriage. It is the most popular scheme backed by the Government of India. It is the part of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ Scheme. Under this scheme, the girl child is the primary account holder, and parents are a joint holder of the account. After the age of 18 years, they can withdraw up to 50 % of the amount for higher education.
Benefits:
It pays a quarterly interest for each financial year.
It offers the highest interest rate when compared to the other saving schemes.
It comes with the lock-in period. During this period, withdrawn cannot be done
Balika Samriddhi Yojana
The Balika Samriddhi Yojana is a scholarship program that aims to provide financial help to the girl child and their mother, who are below the poverty line. The main objective of the scheme is to improve their status in society and improve the admission of girl children in schools.
Benefits:
This scheme is for both urban as well as rural areas.
The mother of a girl child receives ₹500 after the birth of the newborn baby.
The girl child will get the annual scholarship from ₹300 to ₹1000 till the 10th standard.
CBSE Udaan Scheme
The Central Board of Secondary Education regulates the CBSE Udaan scheme for girl child by the Ministry of Human Resource of Development. The program aims to ensure the enrolment of the girls in engineering or technical colleges across India.
Benefits:
• Free syllabus books/material for girl students in the 11th and 12th standard.
• Virtual classes on weekends for girl students in the 11th and 12th standard.
• Study helpline service to clarify doubts of students.
• Proper monitoring and tracking of student’s progress.
Eligibility:
• Girls students should be a citizen of India and living in India.
• They must have opt-in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics stream in Class 11th and 12th.
• The annual family income of students must be below ₹6 lakh.
National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education
National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education is a scheme based on pan India managed by the department of school education & literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. It is mainly for the benefit of girls who belong to the lower classes of India.
Eligibility:
• All girls who belong to SC/ST and girl students from other social classes are eligible if they have passed the 8th standard exam from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.
• Girls available for the scheme should be age 16 years or less.
• Girl students who are married or have enrolled in any other central government schemes such as CBS, NVS, and KVS are not eligible for this scheme.
Dhanalakshmi Scheme
The Dhanalakshmi Scheme launched in March 2008 as a pilot project launched by the central government for providing conditional cash incentives to low-income families with girl children.
The states where the Dhanalakshmi Scheme pilot project implemented are as follows :
• Andhra Pradesh
• Bihar
• Chhattisgarh
• Jharkhand
• Orissa
• Punjab
• Uttar Pradesh
The project of this girl, child welfare scheme, was run in specific areas of the above states. These states were selected based on their lower than average girl child sex ratio (as compared to other parts of India). The main aim of providing cash incentives under this scheme is to promote education and improve the well-being of the girl child, especially those belonging to economically and educationally backward classes.