Top Government Girl Child Schemes in India

Last Updated : March 2, 2024, 11:33 a.m.

India has made significant strides in promoting the welfare and empowerment of girl children through various government schemes implemented at both the state and central levels. These schemes aim to address issues such as gender inequality, female infanticide, lack of access to education and healthcare, and other challenges faced by girls in the country. By providing financial assistance, healthcare services, educational support, and other benefits, these initiatives seek to improve the lives of girl children and ensure their holistic development. In this topic, we will explore some of the top government girl child schemes in India, highlighting key features, eligibility criteria, and the impact they have had in empowering girls and fostering gender equality across the nation.

List of Government Schemes for Girl Child in India

Central Government Schemes for Girl Child

Below, we have listed the main initiatives led by the Central Government for the benefit of girl children:

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is a popular scheme introduced by the Central Government of India 2015 with the objective of promoting the welfare of the girl child and encouraging her education. One of the primary goals of this scheme is to address the imbalance in child sex ratio and promote a culture where the birth of a girl is celebrated as enthusiastically as that of a boy. It also aims to discourage practices like female infanticides and promote better healthcare for female infants.

Below are the key features of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme:

• The scheme ensures protection and survival of girl children in infancy.
• It promotes education and employment of girl children.
• It aims to give a safe and stable atmosphere to girls
• Challenging gender stereotypes and supporting gender equality.
• It believes in promoting the right of girls to inherit property.

Eligibility Criteria

• The family should have a girl child below 10 years of age.
• There should be Sukanya Samriddhi Account in any Indian Bank in the name of the girl child.
• The girl should be born in India. This scheme is not applicable to NRI citizens.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)

It is a small savings scheme launched by the government of India as a part of the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)” campaign. It is designed to encourage parents or guardians to save for the future education and marriage expenses of their girl child. The interest rate on SSY is set by the government and is typically higher than many other savings schemes.

Below are the key features of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana:

• It aims to provide a dedicated savings avenue for parents for the future education and marriage expenses of their girl child.
• The funds can be used to cover educational expenses, including school fees and related costs.
• SSY aims to contribute to the empowerment of the girl child and promote gender equality.
• Contributions made towards SSY are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
• Partial withdrawal is available for higher education of a girl child.

Eligibility Criteria

• The account can be opened for girl children below the age of 10 years.
• It can be opened in any post office or authorized banks across India.
• The account can be opened by a parent or legal guardian.
• Minimum annual investment: Rs. 250; Maximum investment limit: Rs. 1.5 lakh annually
• The account matures when a girl reaches the age of 21 or when she marries after reaching 18 years.

Balika Samriddhi Yojana

Balika Samriddhi Yojana, unveiled by the Central government in 1997, was particularly launched to support the birth and education of a girl child. It provides coverage for all girl children in families below the poverty line (BPL) as defined by the Government of India, in rural and urban areas, born on or after 15th August 1997. The scheme is implemented in urban areas through the Health Department, while in rural areas, it is implemented via the Integrated Child Development Services.

Below are the key features of Balika Samriddhi Yojana:

• It aims to change the negative perspective of Indian society toward the birth of a girl child.
• Rightly raising the girl child till she reaches the legal age for marriage.
• BSY’s mission is to improve enrollment and retention of girl children in schools.
• It encourages the girl child in undertaking income-generating activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• The scheme provides financial assistance of Rs. 500 on the birth of a girl child.
• The girl child further receives an annual scholarship in the range of Rs. 300 to Rs. 1000 until the completion of her education from 1st to 10th standard.
• To be eligible for BSY, the girl child must be born on or after August 15, 1997.
• A girl child must belong to a BPL family.
• BSY provides benefits to two female children in each family.

CBSE Udaan Scholarship Program

It is one of the best schemes for girls initiated by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in association with the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) of the Government of India. CBSE Udaan scheme helps female students of economically vulnerable families in India to obtain their higher education from prestigious engineering institutions.

Below are the key features of CBSE Udaan Scholarship Program:

• The scheme is available for students studying in class XI and XII in a CBSE affiliated school.
• The students must be enrolled in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) stream.
• Free online learning resources are available to selected female students that include video lectures, study materials, and more.
• Periodic assessments and tests are conducted to evaluate the progress of students.
• The scheme offers peer learning opportunities and mentorship programs for female students.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants with an average of 70% in Class 10 exams are eligible.
• A minimum of 80% in Science and Mathematics is required.
• Candidates must have a GPA of at least 8 in Mathematics and 9 in Science.

National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education

This scheme promotes the girl child’s enrolment in the age group of 14-18 years from SC/ST groups in the secondary education stage. The eligible girl will be given Rs. 3,000 as a fixed deposit on her behalf under the scheme. She can withdraw with interest after she reaches the age of 18 and has completed her 10th-grade test.

Below are the key features of National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education:

• It is for girls belonging to SC/ST families of lower socio-economic backgrounds and who have passed the class VIII exams.
• The ministry of education deposits Rs. 3,000 in a Fixed Deposit account in the name of the girl child.
• The accumulated amount can be withdrawn when a girl turns 18.
• Premature withdrawal is not allowed from this FD account.

Eligibility Criteria

• Girls who are enrolled in or are about to enroll in secondary education (classes 9-12) are eligible.
• The age of girls needs to be less than 16 years.
• Girls from other social groups are also eligible if they have passed the class 8 exam through Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

State government initiatives for girl child

Below, we have listed the important girl child schemes introduced by the State government:

Ladli Lakshmi Yojana

Ladli Lakshmi Yojana is a financial assistance scheme launched by the government of Madhya Pradesh in 2007. It aims to prevent social ills in the society such as child marriage and female foeticide. Once the beneficiary is approved, Rs. 6,000 worth of National Savings Certificate is purchased every year for the first five years. It would be renewed from time to time.

Out of this investment, Rs. 2,000 is paid after the girl child is admitted in 6th class and subsequently Rs. 4,000 will be invested in the admission of a girl in 9th class.

Below are the key features of Ladli Lakshmi Yojana:

• This scheme strives to improve the sex ratio and girl child education in the state.
• The state government provides Rs. 2,000 – 6,000 for Class VI to XII girl children.
• Additional deposits of Rs. 200 are provided to the girl in Class XI and XII.
• The government provides Rs. 1 lakh to the applicant’s family for marriage.
• Rs. 25,000 is paid in installments to the girl child for pursuing their graduation/professional degree.

Eligibility Criteria

• The girl child and her family should be residents of the state where the scheme is being implemented.
• The parents of the girl child should not be taxpayers as per the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Girls who drop out of school will not be benefitted from the scheme.

Delhi Ladli Scheme

Delhi Ladli Scheme is a government-backed scheme launched in January 2008 to provide financial assistance and other benefits to girl children from economically weaker sections of the society. The scheme provides support for girls’ schooling, including scholarships for higher education. Through awareness campaigns and outreach efforts, the scheme seeks to educate communities about the importance of girls’ education and gender equality.

Below are the key features of Delhi Ladli Scheme:

• The aim of the scheme is to empower the girl child economically and socially.
• The State Bank Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (SBIL) is the scheme’s Fund Manager.
• The scheme’s mission is to promote education among girl children and reduce the school dropout rate.
• Delhi Ladli Scheme was initiated to provide security to girl students for higher education.

Eligibility Criteria

• The girl should be born in Delhi as shown by the birth certificate issued by the registrar.
• The annual family income should not exceed Rs. 1,00,000.
• The benefit of the scheme is limited to two surviving girls per family.

Karnataka Bhagyashree Scheme

The Bhagyashree Scheme, introduced by the Karnataka government, aims to encourage the birth of girl children within economically disadvantaged families. Financial aid is provided to eligible families once certain criteria are fulfilled. Under the scheme, the girl child is entitled to health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 25,000 annually. Additionally, she receives an annual scholarship ranging from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1000 until completing class 10, facilitating her education and overall well-being.

Below are the key features of Karnataka Bhagyashree Scheme:

• It provides financial assistance to females belonging to BPL families.
• This scheme aims to create an environment where every child, irrespective of gender, is welcomed and valued.
• Under the scheme, eligible families receive insurance coverage.

Eligibility Criteria

• The girl children born in families below the poverty line after March 31, 2006 can avail the benefits of the scheme.
• The scheme is applicable to only 2 girls of the BPL family.
• The girl child availing the scheme should not be a child labour.
• The beneficiary should have completed 8th standard and should not have been married before the age of 18.

Manjhi Kanya Bh a gyashree Scheme

The Manjhi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme, implemented by the Maharashtra government, aims to enhance the well-being of girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and marginalized communities. You can acquire the application form for the Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme from your nearby Anganwadi center and submit it along with all necessary documents, including the birth certificate of the girl child, to the local Anganwadi worker.

Below are the key features of Manjhi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme:

• The mother of a girl child receives Rs. 5,000 with a maturity period of five years.
• Rs. 25,000 each is provided to families with two girl children.
• Families can withdraw accumulated interest after every six years.

Eligibility Criteria

• To avail of the benefits of this scheme, the family income should be below Rs. 7.5 lakhs.
• It is applicable to families who have girl children born after 1st August 2017.
• A maximum of two girls are covered under this scheme.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Girl Child Protection Scheme

Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to families for the education, health, and overall well-being of their girl children. An initial deposit is made in the name of the girl child in a fixed deposit account. The fixed deposit matures when the girl child reaches a certain age, typically 18 years, and accrues interest over time.

Below are the key features of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Girl Child Protection Scheme:

• The FD is made with the Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
• The government deposits an amount of Rs. 50,000 for a single child born on 1 August, 2011.
• Rs. 25,000 are deposited for two daughters in a family.
• Each year, starting from the sixth year of deposit, a yearly incentive of Rs.1800 is provided to the girl child to assist with educational expenses.
• The deposit scheme is renewed every five years.

Eligibility Criteria

• The girl child should appear for the 10th standard public examination.
• Applicant’s families must have an annual income below Rs. 72,000.
• The girl should be unmarried.

Wrapping Up!

The Top government girl child schemes in India, both at the state and central levels, play a crucial role in promoting gender equality and empowering girls from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. These schemes provide essential support in areas such as education, healthcare, and financial assistance, enabling girls to thrive and reach their full potential. By addressing systemic barriers and socio-cultural norms that hinder girls’ development, these initiatives contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable society.