5 Government Schemes For Girls In India, Its Benefits And Eligibility

Women empowerment and upliftment have been in discussions for years, yet, women are in many fields are not as privileged as the other gender.

Importance of government schemes for girls

Education is the basement of this empowerment, by which a girl gets the strength to feel equal to others. In many Indian states, the ratio of women and men is quite unimpressive, and the governments have failed to improve it. All of these are related to a child's basic education. The union government has a few national schemes to promote girls' education by offering good financial schemes and aid, that she does not become a burden to her family. Along with the education schemes, the union government has multiple women empowerment schemes for their nourishments, nutrition, and schemes against human trafficking.

1. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is the union government's financial scheme, operated by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs). The government rescinds the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Rules, 2016, and has notified the scheme called the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, 2019. one can open a Sukanya Samriddhi Account in a bank or the Indian Post Office. The form is available online. The account should be opened by the natural or legal guardian in the name of a girl child from the birth of the girl child till she attains the age of 10 years. One can open an account with Rs. 1000, and the maximum limit in a financial year is Rs. 1,50,000. The interest rate on the scheme is 7.60% per annum, compounded yearly. So, the money can be utilized by the girl child for her education in the future.

2. National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education

The National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education, offers aid to girl students in the age group of 14-18, for secondary education, as the name suggests. Many girls leave education after class 8, due to family pressures or financial issues. However, to mitigate the financial challenges for them, the government offers Rs. 3,000 to them as a fixed deposit (FD). The girl can withdraw the money along with the interest, after her 18 years of age, and on passing the class 10 final examination. This scheme was launched in May 2008. This scheme has been particularly designed for SC/ST girls. Additionally, all girls, (along with general candidates) who pass the class VIII examination from Kastrurba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and enroll for class IX. These girls need to be below 16 years of age on joining class IX. However, married girls, or students in private schools and enrolled in schools run by Central Government (KVS, NVS) and CBS affiliated schools will be excluded. The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is the official site to check the beneficiaries of the scheme.

3. Balika Saridhhi Yojana

The Balika Samridhi Yojana offer Rs. 500 to the mother on delivery of the girl child, along with an annual scholarship for the child's education. In the rural areas, families below the poverty line according to the criteria specified under Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana will get the benefits. Girl students of class 1 to 3 will get Rs. 300, for each class, students of class 4 and 5 will get Rs. 500, and Rs. 600 respectively. Students of class 6 to 7 will get Rs. 700, students of class 8 will get Rs. Rs. 800, and in class 9 and 10, the girl students will get Rs. 1000. This scheme intends to benefit the girl students throughout their school education-period, and promote education for all. Any financial issue should not restrict them from having adequate school education, at least till secondary level.

4. Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)

Another national scheme named Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)-'Sabla' was introduced to empower girls of 11-18 years of age through nutrition, health care, and life skills education. The union government had identified that girls and women suffer from a lack of nutrition than men. To mitigate this gap, the government introduced these schemes, along with the education-related schemes for girl students. The girls are provided with Supplementary Nutrition adequate calories, protein and micronutrients, per day for 300 days in a year, along with health check-ups and referral services. Under the non-nutrition segment, the government provides training to adolescent girls. According to reports, around 100 lakh adolescent girls per year, are expected to be benefited under the scheme.

5. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

At last, another project needs to be mentioned. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is the government's one of most ambitious schemes. After the Child Sex Ratio (CSR) declined insignificantly in the last census, the union government introduced this program. A decline in CSR reflects both pre-birth discriminations manifested through gender-biased sex selection, and post-birth discrimination against girls, the government identified. So, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme was introduced with a two folds motto: Advocacy and Media Communication Campaign, and Multi-Sectoral interventions in selected districts. Orientation and sensitization programs for girl child education is the key to this scheme.