The 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign started by the present central government has been going on in the country for many years. It aims to ensure the safety and education of girls. However, there is another scheme in the country that predates the Modi government, which provides financial assistance to girls from birth till their education.
In 1997, the government launched the 'Balika Samriddhi Yojana'. This scheme provides financial assistance to girls from birth till their education. Initially, on the birth of a girl child, the mother gets Rs.500 as financial assistance. Thereafter, at each stage of education of girls up to class 10th, the government provides financial assistance.
The scheme is designed to benefit families living below the poverty line (BPL) in both urban and rural areas. Each family can avail the benefits of this scheme for a maximum of two daughters.
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The documents required to apply for Balika Samriddhi Yojana include the birth certificate of the girl child, the domicile of the parents, and identity proof of the parents or relatives. Acceptable identity proof may include Ration Card, Aadhaar Card, or Bank Account Passbook.
To apply to Balika Samriddhi Yojana, you can submit the application online or offline. Offline applications can be obtained from Anganwadi workers and healthcare centers, while online applications require filling out and submitting the form electronically. It is important to note that separate forms are provided for rural and urban beneficiaries, and all necessary information must be provided.
Under this scheme, the central government provides an annual scholarship for the education of the girl child. The scholarship amount varies class-wise, starting from Rs 300 per annum for classes I to III and gradually increasing to Rs 1000 per annum for classes IX to X.
The Balika Samridhi Yojana is managed by the Integrated Child Development Services in rural areas, while the health department officials oversee the scheme in urban areas.
