Different Child Plans For Girls Funded By Government Of India

The Government of India has taken numerous measures to ensure the equality of girl children. A huge number of welfare schemes and financial aids are introduced regularly for ensuring the welfare of the girl child, their education and health.

According to recent census statistics, the child sex ratio of girls to boys (0-6 years) declined to 919 girls per 1,000 boys from 927 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001. The adverse sex ratio is the culmination of a conservative way of thinking that households do not want to give birth to a daughter and nurture her to achieve her abilities.

Even before the child is conceived, a ‘Girl Child’ faces discrimination. Female infanticide is a disturbing phenomenon in India, as low-cost abortion technology enables households to exercise their choice for boys over daughters. She's 'lucky' if she's allowed to be born. Right after birth, the infant faces bigotry and injustice. She is not provided with adequate meals compared to her male siblings, her education is not given much priority. And in many instances, parents want their sons to resume schooling, and wish their daughters to sit at home and do household work.

Top Government Schemes for Ensuring the Welfare of the Girl Child in India

Considering the numerous obstacles that come in the way of a girl child, throughout her life, the government has many schemes in place to make sure that she is given the right opportunity and additional aid to help her progress and succeed in life. Some of the top schemes are given below:

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a central government scheme that helps girls throughout the nation. The primary purpose of this scheme is to save the child from social problems such as gender-based abortions and advance child education around the country. This program was initially meant for districts considered to have a low sex ratio and successfully extended to other regions of the country. This is essentially an educational programme to help change societal attitudes and does not entail the immediate transfer of funds. The key aims of this child protection scheme include:

• Preventing selective gender abortion
• Ensure infant survival and wellbeing in childhood
• Ensure the child's education and inclusion
• Challenging gender stereotypes and supporting gender equality
• Giving a safe and stable atmosphere to girls
• To endorse the right of girls to inherit property.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Account is a Government of India backed savings scheme designed for parents of girl children. The scheme allows parents to set up a trust for their child's eventual schooling and marriage expenses. It encourages parents to systematically save for their daughter’s higher education and marriage so that the perception of a girl child being a burden on her parents is abolished.

All parents and guardians of girl children under the age of 10 can open this account. Only one account per child is allowed. Parents can open up to two accounts for two of their children (exceptions allowed for twins and triplets). The account is portable anywhere in India and can be accessed at any branch of the post office or the bank.

• Savings account specially designed for parents of girl children
• Encourages parents to save towards the education of the girl child; introduced as part of the ‘Beti Padhao Beti Bachao’ movement
• Parents of girl children under the age of 10 can open this account
• Only 2 accounts allowed per family; exemptions allowed in case of twins or triplets
• Minimum deposit of Rs.250 per annum and maximum of Rs.1.5 lakhs
• Tax exemption available on the deposited amount, interest accrued and the withdrawal amount
• Maximum tenure of the account shall be 21 years from the date of opening of account or the marriage of the girl child, whichever is earlier
• Deposits allowed for a maximum of 15 years from the date of opening of account
• Partial withdrawal of up to 50% allowed once the girl reaches 18 years of age
• Account can be opened at your nearest post office or any of the public and private sector banks
• Deposits into the account can be made via cash, cheque, DD or online transfers
• The account can be transferred from one post office to another, one bank to another or between post office and banks, upon submission of valid address proof
• Pre-closure of account is allowed to take care of marriage of the girl child, provided that the girl child has attained the age of 18 and relevant proofs are submitted thereof.

Balika Samridhi Yojana

The Balika Samridhi Yojana is a scheme similar to the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. Under the scheme, limited saving opportunities are offered for the parents of the girl child.

• The scheme is available for new born infants only.
• Rs.500 is provided at the time of birth of each girl child.
• While attending school, an annual scholarship of Rs. 300 - Rs. 1000 is provided till the girl child completes her Grade X.
• Maximum age limit for enrolment is 10 years (of the child).
• A household is qualified to enter this scheme for two of their daughters only. 
• The depositor should belong to a family that is ‘Below Poverty Line’.
• Account can be opened at your nearest bank. Only certain banks are designated to carry out the application process under this programme.

Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana

The Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana was launched in Rajasthan. It offers monetary benefits to parents of girl children, starting from their birth till their higher education;

• Rs.2500 is given to the mother at the birth of a girl child
• Once the child completes one year, with all vaccinations done, Rs 2500 is given through a cheque.
• At the time of admission in any public school into grade I, Rs.4000 is paid to the girl child.
• Rs.5000 is paid when the child enters Grade VI
• Rs. 11000 is paid once the girl enters Grade XI

Who is eligible to enter the Scheme?

• The scheme is only open to all permanent residents of the Rajasthan state.
• The scheme is open for a girl child born after 1st June’16.

CBSE Udaan scheme

The CBSE Udaan scheme for girls is implemented by the Central Board of Secondary Education, under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India. The goal of this scheme is to increase the student enrolment of girls in prestigious engineering and technical colleges across India. Students should go to their CBSE school to participate in this programme.

• Offers free course materials/online services, such as video related literature for girl students in the 11th and 12th grades.
• Virtual interaction courses for girl students in the 11th and 12th grades.
• Peer learning and mentoring opportunities for all deserving girl students
• Study helpline resources to clear students' doubts.
• Continuous observation and recording of students' progress.

Eligibility to enrol in the CBSE Udaan Scheme

• Girl students who are Indian citizens living in India
• Girl students must be enrolled in Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics in classes 11th and 12th of CBSE affiliated schools
• Annual family income of the student does not exceed Rs. 6 lakhs per annum
• Selection based on merit according to strict requirements

Conclusion

All these schemes are conveniently available at your nearest post office and public sector banks. A few private sector banks are also roped in to take these benefits to every citizen of the country.

Also read: What Is The Ideal Amount To Invest In Child Plans

How Can I Compare The Best Child Plans In India?