To secure a girl child's future her education expenses, marriage expenses, and all expenses leading up to her career must be carefully planned for. There are Central and state government initiatives that offer financial support, scholarships, and academic support to empower and protect girls across India. But due to the state governments being numerous, we are here covering Central government schemes such as Sukanya Samriddhi Account, Balika Samriddhi Yojana, CBSE Udaan, and National Scheme of Incentive for the Girls of Secondary Education. You can help any financially disadvantaged acquaintance of yours to enrol in these schemes, as it is very easily accessible and they can enjoy scholarships and financial incentives. But we will start with a savings scheme.
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Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme is a central government initiative that aims to secure a girl child's future by covering education and marriage expenses. SSY Accounts must be opened before the child turns 10, with minimum annual investments starting from Rs 250 failing which will incur a penalty. The maximum investment can be up to Rs 1.5 lakh annually. Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme updated its interest rates from January 1, 2024, and now offers an interest rate of 8.2 per cent per annum. Deposits made on or after January 1, 2024, are receiving this rate. The scheme will only mature in 21 years and only allows partial withdrawals after the girl turns 18 for higher education or marriage purposes.
Applications can be made through select banks and post offices, and with documents like birth certificates and KYC proofs. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana offers tax-exempt returns.
Another Central government scheme designed differently for both rural and urban areas, Balika Samriddhi Yojana covers girl children from families below the poverty line (BPL) born on or after August 15, 1997. BPL families are identified using norms specified under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana and data from household surveys in rural and urban areas respectively. Now the scheme has been handed over to state governments for implementation.
Eligible beneficiaries can receive Rs 500 worth of post-birth grants for two girl children in each household and annual scholarships for them based on the classes they study in.
When these girl children start going to school, they start receiving annual scholarships starting from Rs 300 per annum till class 3 and then Rs 400 in Class 4. Then it is increased every year by Rs 100 till class 8. In Class 9 and 10 they receive Rs 1,000.
Managed by the Central Board of Secondary Education, this scheme aims to increase the enrollment of girls in engineering and technical colleges.
Students in class XI and XII are provided free offline or online courses through virtual weekend contact classes. They will also be provided with study material while studying in classes XI and XII. Guidance will be given for the preparation of admission tests to various premier engineering colleges in the country. Constant monitoring and tracking of student progress with feedback is part of this guidance.
Interested applicants would need to fill out the UDAAN application form by visiting the official website of CBSE- www.cbse.nic.in or www.cbseacademic.in. But this is a scholarship initiative for which students have to get good grades in class 10.
The Human Resource Development Ministry runs this pan-India scheme to support secondary education for girls from deprived classes in the age group of 14 to 18 who have passed Class VIII. Students belonging to the SC/ST category and those passing class 8th from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya girls irrespective of caste and enrolling in class IX in government or aided schools are eligible to apply.
They will receive Rs. 3000 as a fixed deposit, which can be withdrawn with interest after reaching 18 and completing the 10th grade.
