Top 10 Government Girl Child Schemes in India: With the aim of changing the social attitude towards girl children in India and their upliftment in the society, a number of girl child schemes have been launched across India. Such schemes can be broadly divided into two categories – Central Government schemes and State Government schemes.
Top 10 Government Girl Child Schemes in India: by Central Government
Girl child schemes by Central Government are administered by the Central Government and can be availed by girl children and their parents irrespective of the part of India they live in. Following are the key features of the most important Central Gov. Girl Child Schemes of India:
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a central government scheme for girl children which is implemented across the country. The main objective of this scheme is to save girl children from social evils like gender-biased abortion and to promote education among girl children across the country.
This scheme was initially implemented in districts that were recognized to have low sex ratio i.e. fewer female children than male children, but later it was expanded to other parts of the country as well. It is primarily an education-based scheme to help change social attitudes and does not involve direct cash transfer.
The main objectives of this social welfare scheme for girl children include:
Preventing gender-biased selective abortion
Ensuring survival and protection of girl children in childhood
Ensuring higher education for girls
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a special savings scheme run by the government with a girl child as the primary account holder while the parents/legal guardians are the joint holders of the account. This account can be opened before the girl child turns 10 years old and contributions are required for 15 years after opening the account.
Following are some of the key features and benefits of investing in Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account:
Easy initial deposit options (ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 1.5 lakh)
Fixed rate of return to currently 7.6% as of the first quarter of the financial year 2022-23
Tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act 1961
Completely tax-free investment as the principal investment, maturity amount and interest received are all tax deductible
Can withdraw some money for higher education of girl child Can be availed across India at any PSU bank, India Post Office and select private sector banks Long-term investment as investment is open for 15 years after opening the account
Balika Samridhi Yojana: Top 10 Government Girl Child Schemes in India
Balika Samridhi Yojana is a scholarship scheme designed to provide financial support to young girls living below the poverty line and their mothers. The main objective of the scheme is to improve their status in society, increase the marriageable age of girls and improve enrollment as well as increase the number of girls in schools.
girl child benefit scheme is available in both urban and rural areas
Rs. 500 is provided to the mother of the girl child after the birth of the newborn
While going to school, a girl child can get an annual scholarship of Rs. 300 to Rs. 1000
You can withdraw the balance amount after the girl child turns 18 years old
Applicants can download the Balika Samridhi Yojana form for free from the website of the Department of Women and Child Development. Following are the links of this Balika Yojana application form for urban areas and rural areas:
CBSE Udaan Scheme
CBSE Udaan Scheme for Gir ls is run by the Central Board of Secondary Education under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The focus of this scheme is to increase the admission of girls in prestigious engineering and technical colleges across India.
This scheme includes efforts that are made to enhance the learning experience with special focus on girl students from economically backward sections of the society.
Following are the key features of CBSE Udaan Scheme:
Free study material/online for girl students of class 11th and 12th like video study material etc.
Weekend online classes for girl students of class 11th and 12th
Learning and mentoring opportunities for bright girl students
Use helpline services for student complaints
Continuous monitoring and tracking of students’ progress.
Eligibility Criteria of CBSE Udaan Scheme
Following are the main eligibility criteria to enrol in Udan Yojana:
Indian girl students residing in India
Girl students studying in class 11th and 12th in CBSE affiliated schools should be enrolled in Physics, Chemistry or Maths stream
Girl student’s annual family income should not exceed Rs 6 lakh
Merit-based selection under specific rules
Applicants of this scheme can do so through their CBSE schools.
National Scheme of Incentive for Girls for Secondary Education
The National Scheme of Incentive for Girls for Secondary Education scheme is an all India scheme run by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. It is mainly meant to benefit girls from backward classes of India.
Eligibility Criteria of National Scheme of Incentive for Girls for Secondary Education
All SC/ST girls who have passed class 8th examination. Students from other social classes are also eligible, if they have passed class 8th examination from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya
Girls eligible for the scheme should be below 16 years of age
Students who are married or are taking benefits from various central government schemes like CBS, NVS and KVS are not eligible for this scheme.
How does the National Scheme of Incentive for Girls for Secondary Education work?
Once an eligible girl student is selected, Rs. 3000 is deposited on her behalf as a fixed deposit. This amount can be withdrawn with interest when the girl student passes the 10th class examination and attains the age of 18 years.
Dhanalakshmi Yojana: Top 10 Government Girl Child Schemes in India
The Dhanalakshmi Yojana was launched by the Central Government in March 2008 as a pilot project to provide financial help to girl children from low-income families. However, as a result of more attractive schemes launched by the government over the years, the Dhanalakshmi Yojana is now almost defunct.
Following were the major states where Dhanalakshmi Yojana pilot project was implemented:
Andhra Pradesh
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
Odisha
Punjab
Uttar Pradesh
The pilot project of this girl child welfare scheme was run in specific blocks of the above mentioned states, which were selected on the basis of their lower than average girl child sex-ratio (compared to the rest of India). The primary goal of providing financial assistance under this scheme was to promote education and improve the condition of girl children, especially those from economically and educationally backward classes.
Dhanalakshmi Balika Bal Kalyan Yojana provided financial benefits to girl children from birth till the completion of secondary education up to class 8. The financial scheme provided under Dhanalakshmi Yojana is as follows:
on passing class 5 with minimum 85% attendance ₹ 500 on passing
₹ 500
after admission in secondary school
₹ 1500
on passing class 6 with at least 85% attendance
₹ 750
on passing class 7 with at least 85% attendance
₹ 750
on passing class 8 with at least 85% attendance
₹ 750
This scheme was discontinued in April 2013 as by that time many child welfare schemes had been implemented in different states.
Top 10 Government Girl Child Schemes in India: State Government Girl Child Schemes
Apart from the central government schemes, every state in India has its own girl child welfare schemes. Following are some of the most popular state-wise girl child schemes in India:
Ladli Yojana of Haryana
Ladli Yojana is run by the Haryana government to enhance the status of girl child in the society. This scheme additionally focuses on ensuring that the mindset of the society and its attitude towards girl child is changed in such a way that social evils including female foeticide can be eradicated. This scheme was launched by the Haryana state government on 20 August 2015.
How does Ladli Yojana work?
This is a cash incentive scheme that provides financial assistance of Rs. 5000 on the birth of a second girl child in any family after 20 August 2015. This money is invested in a Kisan Vikas Patra in the name of the girl child and her grandfather and father. And this investment is given to the family with interest after the girl child completes the age of 18 years.
To apply for Ladli Yojana of Haryana, one can visit the nearest Anganwadi centers. The form has to be filled and submitted along with the birth certificate of both the first and second girl child to the Anganwadi worker or health worker of the local area. You can also download the Ladli Yojana application form from the official government website
Ladli Laxmi Yojana of Madhya Pradesh: Top 10 Government Girl Child Schemes in India
Madhya Pradesh Ladli Laxmi Yojana is and Maharashtra-sponsored girl child scheme that seeks to improve the condition of girl children and women in the state. The scheme was launched in the year 2006 and aims to prevent social evils like child marriage and female foeticide. After the approval of the beneficiary, National Savings Certificates (NSC) worth Rs. 6000 will be purchased every year for the first 5 years in the name of the beneficiary.
Out of this investment, Rs. 2000 will be invested in the name of the beneficiary. will be invested after the admission of the girl in class 6th and subsequently Rs 4000 will be invested on the admission of the girl in class 9th.
Eligibility Criteria for Ladli Laxmi Yojana
The family should be a resident of Madhya Pradesh and should not have taxable income
After the birth of a second child, the family must adopt family planning and the first girl child must have been born after 1 April 2008.
How to Apply for Ladli Laxmi Yojana in Madhya Pradesh
The form to sign up for Ladli Laxmi Yojana can be obtained from the local Anganwadi Centre of their village/locality in which their house is situated. The form has to be submitted to the Anganwadi Centre of their village/locality within 1 year of the birth of the girl child along with a copy of the required documents. Download Ladli Laxmi Yojana Form.
Karnataka Bhagyashree Yojana
Bhagyashree Yojana is a Karnataka Government scheme designed to promote the birth of girl children among families below the poverty line. Financial assistance is provided to girl children under this scheme. The girl child gets a health insurance cover of up to Rs. 25000. The girl child is also given an annual scholarship of Rs. 300 to Rs. 1000 till the 10th standard.
Eligibility Criteria for Bhagyashree Yojana
Girls from BPL families are eligible for this scheme provided they are born after 31st March 2006.
Enrolment is allowed up to 1 year after the birth child of the child and a maximum of two children can be covered under this scheme.
Other financial benefits are also provided to the beneficiary provided he/she fulfils certain eligibility conditions.
Maazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme by Maharashtra Government
Maazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme is a scheme run by the Maharashtra Government designed to help improve the condition of girl children among BPL and other weaker sections of the society.
Benefits offered under Maazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme
Rs. 5000 is given to the mother of the girl child every year for the first 5 years after the birth of the girl child. After this, Rs. 2500 is provided to the girl child per year till she enrolls in class 5.
After this, this financial assistance is increased to Rs. 3000 per year till the girl child enrolls in class 12. After she completes the age of 18 years. she is given Rs. 1 lakhs for her higher education.
Maazi Kanya Bhagyashree Yojana Application Form
The application form for Maazi Kanya Bhagyashree Yojana can be obtained from the local Anganwadi and submitted to the local Anganwadi worker along with all the required documents such as the girl child’s birth certificate. You can get more information about this girl child scheme from the official website of the Maharashtra government and
you can download the Maazi Kanya Bhagyashree Yojana application form by clicking here.
West Bengal Kanyashree Prakalpa
Kanyashree Prakalpa of West Bengal is a state initiative for girl child schemes, specially designed to improve the well-being as well as the status of girls from weaker socio-economic sections. The scheme is implemented by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal in the form of conditional cash transfer.
The Kanyashree scheme provides a scholarship of Rs. 750 for girls between the ages of 13 and 18 years. A one-time grant of Rs. 25000 is given for girls between the ages of 18 and 19.
Eligibility Criteria for Kanyashree Prakalpa
Under the Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme, a girl student is eligible for the benefit who fulfils the following conditions:
The beneficiary should be a resident of West Bengal and should have a bank account in her name
The girl should be in an educational institution and should be unmarried
The maximum annual income of the girl’s family should be Rs. 1.2 lakh per annum
Application for Kanyashree Prakalpa
A girl child can apply for an annual scholarship under this scheme if she is 13 years of age, provided she is enrolled in class 8 or above. A one-time grant application under Kanyashree Prakalpa can be made between the ages of 18 and 19.
The Kanyashree Yojana application form can be obtained from the institution where the girl child is studying. It has to be filled and submitted along with documents such as birth certificate, a declaration stating that the applicant is unmarried and annual income statement confirming that the family income is Rs 1.2 lakh per annum or less.
