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Government Schemes for Girl Child in India – Complete Guide to Benefits and Support
In India, empowering the girl child has become a major priority for both the central and state governments. Various schemes aim to promote education, health, financial security, and social welfare for girls, ensuring their holistic development. If you have a girl child, understanding these schemes can help you secure her future and access numerous benefits.
This guide provides a complete overview of central and state government schemes, including eligibility, benefits, and detailed explanations.
Why Government Schemes for Girl Child Matter
Despite progress in education and health, girls in India face challenges such as:
- Gender-based discrimination
- Low enrollment in higher education
- Financial dependency
- Early marriages
Government schemes are designed to address these challenges, provide financial support to families, and promote education and empowerment for girls.
Central Government Schemes for Girl Child
1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
Purpose:
Launched in 2015, this flagship initiative focuses on improving the child sex ratio and ensuring equal opportunities for girls.
Key Features:
- Awareness campaigns at community and school levels
- Encourages education and enrollment of girls
- Monitors and prevents gender-based discrimination and female foeticide
- Implements interventions across health, education, and legal frameworks
Impact:
Communities have become more aware of the importance of a girl child, resulting in better education enrollment rates and improved gender ratios in many districts.
2. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
Purpose:
A financial savings scheme that encourages parents to save for their daughter’s education and marriage expenses.
Key Features:
- Account opening: At banks or post offices in the name of a girl child below 10 years
- Interest rate: Attractive and compounded annually
- Deposit limit: ₹250–₹1.5 lakh per year
- Tax benefits: Eligible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act
- Maturity: When the girl turns 21 or for marriage after 18 years
Impact:
This scheme ensures financial security for girls and motivates parents to invest in their education and future.
3. Balika Samriddhi Yojana
Purpose:
Focused on families below the poverty line, this scheme provides financial assistance to improve the welfare of girl children.
Key Features:
- Monetary support at the birth of a girl child
- Encourages school enrollment and higher education
- Aims to raise social status of girls in disadvantaged communities
Impact:
This program has improved school attendance and reduced gender disparities in education.
4. CBSE Udaan Scheme
Purpose:
To enhance opportunities for girls in engineering and technical education.
Key Features:
- Free online coaching and mentorship for female students
- Focused on increasing enrollment in IITs and other prestigious institutions
- Helps bridge the gender gap in STEM education
Impact:
Girls from underrepresented communities gain access to high-quality technical education and career opportunities.
State-Specific Schemes
1. Madhya Pradesh – Ladli Laxmi Yojana
Purpose:
Promotes education and welfare of the girl child through financial incentives.
Key Features:
- Provides financial support to families for the education of their daughters
- Encourages girls to stay in school
- Supports delayed marriage and improved health outcomes
2. Telangana – Kalyana Lakshmi / Shaadi Mubarak
Purpose:
Provides financial aid for the marriage of girls from economically weaker families.
Key Features:
- One-time financial assistance
- Aims to prevent child marriages
- Ensures families can afford education and welfare before marriage
3. West Bengal – Kanyashree Prakalpa
Purpose:
Promotes school enrollment and delayed marriage among girls aged 13–18.
Key Features:
- Conditional cash transfers to unmarried girls
- Incentivizes continuation of education
- Helps improve health and economic prospects
4. Odisha – Khushi Scheme
Purpose:
Focuses on menstrual hygiene and health of school-going girls.
Key Features:
- Free sanitary napkins distributed in schools
- Reduces school absenteeism due to menstruation
- Improves health awareness among adolescent girls
5. Uttar Pradesh – Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana
Purpose:
Financial support to promote education and welfare of the girl child.
Key Features:
- Multiple installments of financial aid based on age
- Encourages school attendance and higher education
- Supports health and nutrition programs
6. Jharkhand – Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana
Purpose:
Supports adolescent girls’ education and empowerment.
Key Features:
- Financial aid for continuing school education
- Focus on girls aged 11–18
- Provides awareness on health, hygiene, and rights
Additional Supportive Initiatives
| Initiative | Purpose | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Sankalp Campaign | Women’s health & safety | Awareness workshops in schools, factories, and communities |
| Digital Libraries for Girls | Education & empowerment | Provides modern educational resources in colleges |
How to Apply
- Central Schemes: Applications for schemes like Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana can be made at banks or post offices. Some processes are now partially online, but initial documentation often requires in-person verification.
- State Schemes: Applications are usually submitted through the Women & Child Development Department of the respective state or via official portals.
Key Benefits Summary
| Scheme | Age/Eligibility | Benefit | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beti Bachao Beti Padhao | All girls | Awareness & enrollment | Gender equality, education |
| Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana | <10 years | Savings + tax benefit | Financial security, education, marriage |
| Balika Samriddhi Yojana | BPL families | Financial aid | Education & social upliftment |
| CBSE Udaan | Girls in secondary school | Free technical coaching | STEM education |
| Ladli Laxmi Yojana | Girls in MP | Financial incentives | Education & welfare |
| Kalyana Lakshmi | Girls in Telangana | Marriage financial aid | Prevent child marriage |
| Kanyashree Prakalpa | Girls 13–18 WB | Conditional cash transfer | Education & delayed marriage |
| Khushi Scheme | School-going girls in Odisha | Free sanitary napkins | Health & hygiene |
| Kanya Sumangala | UP girls | Financial installments | Education & welfare |
| Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi | Jharkhand girls | Financial aid | Education & empowerment |
Final Thoughts
The Indian government offers a wide range of schemes for the girl child, covering financial security, education, health, and social empowerment. These programs are designed to bridge gender gaps, prevent discrimination, and empower girls to achieve their full potential.
If you have a girl child, exploring these schemes and availing benefits early can secure her future and open up new opportunities for education, health, and social development.