Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme

Context:

19,535 villages declared as “Sampoorna Sukanya Gram” under Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana campaign

About Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme:

• Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme is a small saving scheme under the Government of India targeting the parents of any girl child.
• This scheme focuses on encouraging the parents of the female child for building a fund for their future education and marriage expenses. Also known as Sukanya Samriddhi Account,
• This scheme was launched by PM of India as a part of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
• It was launched on 22nd January 2015 in Panipat, Haryana.
• The Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme provided an interest rate of 8.4% and tax benefits to every account opened under it for July-September 2019.
• The Sukanya Samriddhi Account can be opened at any Post office or branch of authorized commercial banks in the country.

Benefits

• Interest rate on deposts : 8.40% w.e.f 1st Oct, 2019). Compounded annually with option for monthly interest pay-outs to be calculated on balance in completed thousands.
• As applicable under section 80C of the IT Act, 1961, the scheme has been extended Triple exempt benefits i.e. there will be no tax on the amount invested, amount earned as interest and amount withdrawn.

Eligibility

• Parents or legal guardians can open deposits on behalf of a girl children (including adopted girl child) for up to 2 daughters aged below 10. Three girl children, in case of twin girls as second birth or the first birth itself results in three girl children.
• Only one account can be opened in the name of a girl child.
• Minimum of Rs 250 of initial deposit with multiple of Rs 150 thereafter with annual ceiling of Rs.150000 in a financial year.
• Maximum period upto which deposits can be made 15 years from the date of opening of the account. The account shall mature on completion of 21 years from the date of opening of account or on the marriage of Account holder whichever is earlier.
• Requirement of a birth certificate of the girl child

What is Beti Bachao Beti Padao Yojana?

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana is a campaign under the Government of India that was established for generating awareness and improving the efficiency of the welfare services intended for girls in India. This scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 22 January 2015 which is run jointly by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign is a national initiative jointly which aims to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio image (CSR).

Initially, this scheme was launched with funding of ₹100 crores and targeted mainly to the clusters in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Bihar, and Delhi.

A National Executive Committee has been formed by the Bharatiya Janata Party to promote Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) across the country. National Executive Committee is responsible for organizing several programs to promote “Save Girl Child” and “to Educate Girl Child” since January 2015. Dr. Rajendra Phadke is the National Convener of BBBP Abhiyan.

As per the census data in India, in 2001, the child sex ratio (0-6 years) in India was 927 girls per 1,000 boys and in 2011, it dropped to 918 girls for every 1,000 boys. As per the 2012 reports of UNICEF, India ranked 41st among 195 countries and a population census of 2011, revealed that the population ratio of India is 919 females per 1000 of males.

Objectives of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana

As per the 2011 national census, the reduction in the number of the female population of certain Indian states continued to decrease. This, as a result, led to the establishment of this campaign.

The main objectives of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana are:

• To prevent gender-biased sex selective elimination.
• To ensure the protection and survival of the girl child.
• Ensuring education and participation of the girl child.

Source: PIB

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