Government Schemes to Support the Girl Child in India

In India, several government schemes have been implemented to promote the welfare of the girl child, addressing issues such as education, health, safety, and empowerment. These initiatives are aimed at ensuring girls have equal opportunities and support to thrive in society. Here, we discuss prominent schemes including their eligibility criteria, benefits offered, and application procedures.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) is a flagship scheme launched in 2015, targeting the declining child sex ratio and promoting education for girls.

Eligibility Criteria:

The scheme is applicable to all families with girl children across the country, aiming to create awareness about the importance of girl education and gender equality.

Benefits:

The scheme seeks to ensure the survival, protection, and education of the girl child. It provides financial assistance for the education of girls and awareness campaigns to promote gender equality.

How to Apply:

There is no direct application process for the scheme itself. However, community and local bodies are involved in its implementation to create awareness and monitor the welfare of girls.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a savings scheme introduced under the BBBP initiative specifically aimed at the financial empowerment of the girl child.

Eligibility Criteria:

The scheme is applicable for a girl child aged below 10 years at the time of opening the account. A girl child can only have one SSY account. SSY accounts can be opened at any post office or authorized commercial bank branch. It can be opened till the girl child attains the age of 10 years.