According to the Census of 2011, from the total child population in India, girls account for 48 per cent, many of whom are engaged in child labour, or have become victims of child trafficking and child marriage. 12.15 million children are married in India - 8.9 million are girls; married girls are three times the number of boys. 51 per cent of all trafficking victims were children, of which more than 80 per cent were girls. The future of innumerable girls looks grim, as shown by the following statistics. Gender inequality has been a crucial social issue in India for centuries, but through it all we all have one common goal: an equal society sans any discriminatory practises against girls and women. To ensure that the girl child is adequately represented, qualified and are given equal opportunities, the government of India has implemented several beneficial schemes and policies in India.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme was unveiled in 2015 with the primary aim to protect girls from social problems such as gender-based or sex-selective abortions and to promote girl-child education. The BBBP Scheme is a Central Government-run scheme that provides 100 per cent financial assistance to the District level component, with funds being directly transferred to the DC/account to ensure the Scheme’s smooth running. This is an educational program that aims to change socioeconomic attitudes and would not necessitate a cash payment right away.
The below are the primary objectives of this girl child welfare program:
• Preventing selective gender-based abortions
• Ensuring girl child safety and welfare in infancy
• Ensuring girl child education and inclusion
• Challenging gender stereotypes and promoting gender equity
• Providing a safe and stable atmosphere for girls
• Supporting girls’ right to inherit property
Eligibility:
• A household of the girl under the age of 10 years.
• A Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA) should be opened in the name of the girl child in any bank.
• The girl child should be born in India. This system is not open to non-resident Indians.
CBSE Udaan Scheme
The Central Board of Secondary Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India, manages and administers the CBSE Udaan scheme for girls. This program is one of the most important government girl child schemes in India that aims to increase the number of girls enrolled in prestigious engineering and technical colleges across India.
The Primary Features of the Scheme are:
• Free course material and online resources for girls in 11th and 12th grades, such as video instruction.
• Weekend virtual courses for girls in the 11th and 12th grades.
• Peer education and career opportunities for deserving female students.
• Study assistance and clarification facilities via a toll-free number.
• Consistent monitoring and tracking of students’ progress.
Eligibility:
• Applicants with a secured average of 70 per cent in class 10 can opt for the scheme.
• They must have a scored minimum of 80 per cent in Science and Mathematics.
• The opting student must have a minimum of 8 and 9 GPA in Maths and Science.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a special government-backed savings scheme that features a girl child as the primary account holder while the parent/legal guardian is a joint holder of the account. This account can be opened before the girl child is 10 years old and contributions need to be made for 15 years after opening the account.
The following are some of the key features and benefits of investments made into this account:
• Flexible deposit option with an initial deposit as low as ₹1000 up to ₹1.5 lakh annually.
• A high fixed rate of return currently at 7.6 per cent as of Q1 (April-June) FY 2021-22.
• Tax deduction benefit under section 80C of the IT Act 1961.
• Completely tax-exempt investments as the principal invested, maturity amount and interest earned are all exempt.
• Partial withdrawal option is available for the higher education of girl child.
• Can be availed across India at any PSU bank, India Post Office and at select private sector banks.
• Long term investment as investments can be made for 15 years after opening the account.
Balika Samriddhi Yojana
The Balika Samriddhi Yojana is a scholarship scheme designed to provide financial support to young girls and their mothers who are below the poverty line. The key objective of the scheme is to improve their status in society, increase the marriageable age of girls and improve the enrollment as well as retention of girls in schools. Applicants can download the Balika Samriddhi Yojana Forms for free from the Women & Child Development Department website.
Features and benefits of the Balika Samriddhi Yojana:
• This girl child benefit scheme is available in both urban as well as rural areas.
• Cash benefit provided to mother of girl child after the birth of a newborn.
• When attending school, a girl child can get an annual scholarship till 10th standard.
• Withdrawal facility of balance amount available after the girl child turns 18 years old and is still unmarried.
Eligibility:
• The girl child needs to belong to a family BPL
• The girl children need to be born on or after the 15th of August 1997
National Scheme of Incentive for the Girls of Secondary Education
The Department of School Education & Literacy, Human Resource Development Ministry, Government of India, runs a pan-India scheme to encourage girls to pursue secondary education. The scheme is primarily intended to help girls from India’s deprived classes and to enable them to complete their secondary education.
Under the scheme, the girl will receive ₹3000 as a fixed deposit on her behalf, which she will withdraw with interest after she reaches the age of 18 and has completed her 10th-grade test.
Eligibility:
• The girl child must be unmarried
• Below the age of 16
• The candidate should have passed the 8th grade and enrolled in the 9th
• Must be enrolled in a government-aided school