Gone are the days when people used to curse their fate on the occasion of a girl childbirth. Central government schemes for single girl child have contributed significantly towards changing the mindset of people. Nowadays, girls enjoy equality status in society expect at few places where not much change has come yet. These schemes give benefits to girls after their teenage and open many doors of opportunities for them. The benefits of government schemes for girl child have made it possible for parents to plan for the bright future of their girl child. Here below we have mentioned the popular schemes for girls by the government of India which has lessened the burden of raising girls from the shoulders of Indian parents.

Motives of Government Schemes for Girl Child

The major motives of central government schemes for Single girl child is to uplift the status of girls in Indian society. Also, this will make it easier for girls to know about their rights in different aspects of life. The right implementation of government schemes for girls has made it possible for women to ensure gender equality in India. Women have become self-dependent and been seeking a quality education as well as working in reputed organizations. And as it is said that the status of a country is judged by the freedom its women community enjoy.

Schemes For Single Girl Child

Sukanya Smridhi Yojana

Sukanya Smridhi Yojana is one of the popular central government schemes for single girl child in India. It is an initiative of India government to change the attitude of people towards the girl child. Being a part of “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” initiative, this scheme promotes the raising of a girl child and give her a secure future. Under Sukanya Smridhi Yojana, parents can open Sukanya Smridhi account in the name of a girl child to deposit money into it. Sukanya Smridhi account can be open for a girl child in any bank or post office. Parents can deposit into this account till 21 years from the date of opening of Sukanya Smridhi account.

Benefits Under Sukanya Smridhi Yojana

• Sukanya Smridhi Account offers higher interest than any other “small savings scheme”. In the opening year, the interest rate under this scheme was 9.1 %. And the rate of interest in this scheme is market-linked.
• It is the most tax efficient scheme and GOI had taken this step to avoid tax exemption to encourage people to open Sukanya Smridhi Account on their daughter’s name.
• Sukanya Smridhi Scheme relieves parents of the financial burden and hence it becomes easier for them to give their girl child higher education. Also, all worries related to the marriage of a girl child can be felt
• Interest in Sukanya Smridhi Account is added even after the maturity of the account. It doesn’t matter whether the account is closed or not. Also, the maturity amount is directly paid to the girl child on whose name this account was opened.
• Sukanya Smridhi Yojana is highly flexible as one can deposit the starting amount of Rs. 1000 while the opening of a bank account. Post this, a person can add as less as Rs. 100 in this account with the condition that the total deposit in every financial year should be at least Rs. 1000.

Eligibility Criteria For Sukanya Smridhi Account

• The age of a girl child should be less than 10 years.
• Parents can only deposit in Sukanya Smridhi account for the first 14 years of the opening of this account. From 15-21 years, only interest will be accredited to this account.
• Minimum deposit to start this account is Rs. 1000 and in any financial year, only a sum of Rs. 1.5 lakhs is allowed to deposit under this scheme.
• This account will be automatically mature if a girl wants to marry or seek higher education.

How to Apply for Sukanya Smridhi Scheme

Sukanya Smridhi account can be opened in any post office branch or commercial bank branch. One can easily calculate the maturity amount in this scheme using Sukanya Smridhi Yojana Calculator. It is possible to transfer this account from one bank or post office branch to another.

CBSE Scholarship Scheme 2016

CBSE Scholarship scheme is another popular government scheme for single girl child who has passed class X from any government schools. It was launched in the year 2016 and only single girl child studying in any government scheme can take its benefits. Like other central government schemes for single girl child, it aims to change the attitude of Indian parents towards the single girl child. Under this scheme, a concession in the tuition fee to a single girl child of a government school is given to help in her higher education.

Benefits and Purpose

• Single girl child who has passed class X with at least 60% marks can take benefits under this scheme. It is an effective measure by GOI to reduce the financial burden of parents for the higher education of girls.
• Also, by offering the facility of fee concession of Rs. 500 through this scheme, GOI has initiated an action to motivate parents to support single girl child.
• This scheme also encourages single girl child students with a good academic record to pursue higher education to safeguard their future.

Eligibility

• Only Single Girl Child can apply for the benefits under this scheme.
• The girl should be a student of a government school till class X. Also, only those girls who want to pursue higher education in CBSE school can apply for this scheme.
• The school fee of a girl should not be more than Rs. 1500 per month.
• She should have scored at least 60% mark or 6.2 CGPA.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates can apply for this scheme on the official website of CBSE. Printout of the application form along with the required documents needs to be sent to ‘Assistant Secretary (Scholarship), CBSE, Shiksha Kendra 2, Community Center, Preet Vihar, Delhi – 110092.

Balika Samridhi Yojana

On 15 August 1997, GOI launched Balika Samridhi Yojana for all the girls born on or after this very date. This scheme was initiated by seeing the poor condition of girls in India. Both urban, as well as rural area girls, can apply for this scheme. Similar to other one girl child government schemes, Balika Smaridhi Yojana’s only motive is to support single girl children by uplifting their status in the society.

Benefits

Balika Samridhi Scheme offers two main benefits to a girl child in India. The first benefit is the offering of Rs. 500 to all the single girl children on their birth. And the second advantage they get is a sum of a certain amount of passing each class. Below we have enlisted the amount in each annual year that single girl child gets on passing every standard up to class XII.

I-III  –   Rs. 300/ annum for each class

IV  –   Rs. 500/ annum

V   –   Rs. 600/ annum

VI-VII – Rs. 700/ annum for each class

VIII  – Rs. 800/annum

IX-X  –  Rs. 1000/annum for each class

Eligibility

• DOB of a girl applying for this scheme should be on or after 15 August 1997.
• She should fall under below poverty line category.
• A maximum of two girls from a single family can avail the benefits under this scheme.

How to Apply

To get the first benefit of Rs. 500 on girl childbirth under this scheme, every applicant need to submit a form after filling it. There are two different forms for urban as well as rural areas.

To apply for the second benefit, forms can be available in rural areas at the nearest Anganwadi units. And in the urban areas, forms are available from the neatest health functionaries.

Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana

Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana is a government scheme for girls to give financial support as well as medical amenities to girls. The key thing to note is that this scheme is only applicable to girls born in Rajasthan and it was launched on the eve of International women’s day in 2016. This state government scheme underlines the need to protect girls after their birth. Proper education facility is ensured for girls under this scheme. It would definitely improve gender ration in Indian society. Below we have mentioned the benefits under Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana.

Benefits

• On a girl child’s birth, a sum of Rs. 2500 is given to the mother at the time of giving birth.
• If all the vaccinations are successfully completed on time in the first year after birth then an amount of Rs. 2500 is added to the mother’s pocket through cheque by the state government.
• At the time of a girl child’s admission in the first standard, Rs. 4000 are deposited to the girl’s account by Rajasthan government.
• To boost the morale of girls to study well, a sum of Rs. 5000 is added to a girl’s account once she passed class 5th and enters 6th standard.
• On passing class 11th and 12th, a sum of Rs. 11,000 is given to a girl for each class.
• Once a girl student completes her school education, a sum of Rs. 25,000 is supplied to her as a means of financial aid after class 12th.

Eligibility

Only girls of Rajasthan state are eligible to get the mentioned benefits under this scheme. And another condition for a girl to get benefit under this scheme is that she should be born after 1 June 2016.

How to Apply

By contacting the nearest government hospital, health officer, Zilla Parishad, Gram Panchayat or education officer, one can easily apply for this scheme. You need to have documents namely, Aadhar Card, Residential Proof, Birth Certificate, Passport Size photos, and Bank accounts details to get benefits under this scheme.

Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana

Bihar government in alliance with UTI mutual fund has launched an extraordinary scheme for the single girl child. The name of the scheme is Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana and the aim of this scheme is to supply financial help to girls living in below poverty line. It has been intelligently implemented as neither the girl nor the parents can receive any amount of money till the girl turns 18. This rule has been included so as to financially help the needy girls in their adulthood.

Benefit

• A sum of Rs. 2,000 will be added to every BPL family girl by the Bihar government.
• On this amount, interest will be given which would be accumulated in the account.
• Once the maturity period is reached, this sum would become Rs. 18,000 and will be handed over girls.

Eligibility

• The date of birth of a girl should be on or after 22nd November 2007.
• The beneficiary girl must belong to a BPL(Below Poverty Line) family.
• Only two girls can be benefitted from a single family.
• It is necessary to register the girl’s name within one year of its birth and its overall age must not be cross 3 years.

How to Apply

To apply for this, parents can visit nearby Anganwadi Center, Directorate of Social Welfare (DSW) office or Child Development Project Officer of the district.

Mukhyamantri Laadli Yojana

In order to make BPL family girls self-dependent, the Jharkhand government has launched a scheme namely, Mukhyamantri Laadli Yojana. Apart from supplying money at various stages of life, the government will supply an amount of Rs. 1 Lakh to the beneficiary girl’s account when she turns 21. It is a great support to the needy girls to become independent in their life. Below we have explained benefits, working and eligibility for Mukhyamantri Laadli Yojana.

Benefit

• A sum of Rs. 6000 will be deposited by the Jharkhand government in the girl’s post office account till the age of 21.
• It will become Rs. 1,00000 after the addition of interest to it and an unmarried girl can withdraw this sum at the age of 21.
• Not only this, financial assistance of Rs. 2,000, Rs. 4,000, and Rs. 7500 will be provided to the girl in the 6th, 9th and 11th standard respectively.
• Also, a scholarship amount of Rs. 200 month will be given by the Jharkhand government to the girl when she enters into Higher secondary education.

Eligibility

• Only girls who belong to BPL families can get benefit under this scheme.
• She should be born on or after 1st April 2018.
• The girl should be unmarried at the age of 21.
• Only two girls can get benefit under this scheme.
• It is necessary to generate the birth certificate of the girl within one year of her birth.

How to Apply

The eligible girls’ parents can apply for this scheme by visiting the nearest Anganwadi center. The required form will be provided here only.

Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme

Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme is a step towards supporting the single girl child in Maharashtra. This scheme was initiated in April 2016 and a fund of Rs. 200 crores were allocated for girls under this initiative. Not only would it help to put a check on increasing population but also promote the birth of girl child. It would benefit the girls of Maharashtra on a large scale which would ultimately help them secure their future.

Benefits

• Like many other government schemes for a single girl child, this one supports the girls financially. A sum of Rs. 500 is given to every mother till her girl turns 5 years old.
• Also, an amount of Rs. 3,000 will be given to every girl till the same time duration.
• On crossing 18 years of age, the girl will get a hefty sum of Rs. 1 Lakh from the Maharashtrian government.

Eligibility

• Only girls from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families are eligible to get benefits under this scheme.
• If a family has two girl children then money will be distributed equally between two girls. However, if a third child takes birth then no one will be eligible to take benefits under this scheme.

Application

To apply for Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme, you need to download the application form. After filling this form, you need to submit it to the Directorate of Social Welfare.

Nanda Devi Kanya Yojana

With the help of women and child welfare department, the Uttrakhand government has launched Nanda Devi Kanya Yojana to empower girls financially. To support girls for higher studies after school, a fixed amount is supplied in their accounts. By ensuring the financial help to the girls at the time of their adulthood, the Uttrakhand government’s motive is to make them self-dependent.

Benefits

• Not only would the girl receive an amount of Rs. 5,000 at the time of her birth but also a fixed amount of Rs. 15,000 will be added to the girl’s account. The later amount will be supplied to the girl when she completes 18 years of age or passes her 10th class.

Eligibility

• The girl should be a resident of Uttrakhand state.
• Only a girl who belongs to Below Poverty Line (BPL) is eligible to apply for this scheme.
• Only two girl child from the same family can avail the benefit.
• Also, the annual income of a family should be less than Rs. 36,000 (rural areas) and Rs. 42,000 (urban areas).
• An applicant must possess the documents namely Aadhar Card, Domicile Certificate, Income Certificate, Girl’s Birth Certificate, BPL Certificate, and Maternal-Child Protection Child.

How to Apply

An applicant can apply for Nanda Devi Kanya Yojana by visiting the nearest Anganwadi centers in Uttrakhand state. Also, the application for this scheme can be made by visiting Women Empowerment and Child Welfare Department.

So, these were some of the central government schemes for single girl child and state government schemes for girl child. The Indian government has been doing a wonderful job by launching various schemes to financially assist the needy girls. With the progress of banking industry in India, it has become possible to help underprivileged girls significantly. As more schemes for girls get unveiled by the government, we will update this list.