National Girl Child Day of India: 5 Government Schemes in India exclusively for the Girl Child

National Girl Child Day is observed in India on January 24th every year to raise awareness about the rights of the girl child and the challenges they face. The day is also a time to celebrate the achievements and potential of girls in India.

Did you know that the government of India has several schemes in place to support and empower the girl child? These schemes provide financial assistance for education and healthcare, as well as incentives for retaining girls in school. 

Government Schemes for Girl Child in India

Here’s a list of government schemes in India exclusively for girl children.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) is a social campaign of the Government of India that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services meant for girls. The campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2015, with the goal of creating a positive and enabling environment for the girl child and to ensure her survival, protection, and empowerment.

The main objectives of the BBBP campaign are to prevent female infanticide and foeticide, to ensure the survival, protection and education of the girl child, and to help them achieve their full potential.

This campaign is being implemented in a phased manner, with a focus on select districts in the first phase. These districts have been identified based on their poor sex ratio, low literacy rate, and high incidence of female infanticide and foeticide. 

The campaign has received widespread support from various quarters, and has been credited with generating significant awareness about the rights and welfare of the girl child in India.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a savings scheme launched by the Government of India as part of the "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" campaign. The scheme intends to encourage parents to save for the education and future of their girl children.

Under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, parents or guardians can open a savings account in the name of a girl child who is below the age of 10. The account can be opened at any branch of a bank or post office, and requires a minimum deposit of INR 250. 

The account has a maturity period of 21 years, and can be extended for a further period of three years. Deposits can be made in the account until the girl child reaches the age of 18. The account earns tax-free interest at the rate that is set by the government and reviewed periodically. 

Withdrawals from the account are allowed after the girl child turns 18, or in case of the account holder's death or disability. The scheme also provides for a partial withdrawal of up to 50% of the account balance for the girl child's education after she turns 18.

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is seen as a valuable tool for parents to save for the education and future of their girl children, and has been widely promoted by the government as a way to empower girls and promote gender equality in India.

National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education 

The National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE) is a government scheme in India that provides financial assistance to girls from disadvantaged families to help them complete their secondary education. The scheme was launched in 2009 and is implemented by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Under the NSIGSE, girls who are enrolled in classes 9 to 12 in government, government-aided, or private schools are eligible for financial assistance. The scheme is open to girls from families who are Below Poverty Line, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other disadvantaged groups. The NSIGSE provides a one-time grant of INR 10,000 to eligible girls to help them meet the costs of education, including uniforms, textbooks, and other materials. 

This scheme is an important initiative to promote gender equality and ensures that girls from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to complete their secondary education.

CBSE Udaan Scheme

Udaan is a scholarship scheme launched by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in India to encourage and support girl students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. The scheme is open to girl students who have passed their Class 12 examination from a CBSE-affiliated school, and who are from economically disadvantaged families.

Under the Udaan scheme, eligible students can receive financial assistance to cover the costs of tuition, hostel accommodation, and other expenses related to their higher education. The scholarship is available for a period of four years, and is disbursed directly to the educational institution where the student is enrolled.

In addition to the financial assistance, the Udaan scheme also provides mentorship and support to scholarship recipients to help them succeed in their studies and pursue careers in STEM fields. This includes access to a network of mentors and role models, as well as opportunities for internships and other experiential learning opportunities.

State Specific Government Schemes

Kanyashree Prakalpa (West Bengal): This is a flagship scheme of the Government of West Bengal that aims to improve the status and well-being of the girl child through a package of benefits including financial assistance for education and healthcare, and incentives for retaining girls in school.

Ladli Lakshmi Yojana (Madhya Pradesh): Under this scheme, the Government of Madhya Pradesh provides financial assistance to families for the education and healthcare of their daughters.

Bhagyashree Scheme (Karnataka): This is a scheme launched by the Government of Karnataka to provide financial assistance to girls from economically weaker sections of society for their education and healthcare. 

Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme (Maharashtra): This is a scheme launched by the Government of Maharashtra to provide financial assistance to families for the education and healthcare of their daughters. It aims to encourage families to value the education and empowerment of their daughters.

The Bottom Line

It's so important to invest in the future of our girls, and these schemes are a great way to do that. Let's all do our part to support and empower girls in India, and help them reach their full potential.