Balika Samriddhi Yojana – A Government of India Initiative to Provide Financial Assistance to Female Children

Many schemes, programs, and plans have been rolled out by the Government of India to promote education for girls, help them to become financially independent, and scale newer heights. One such program is the Balika Samriddhi Yojana, which aims to improve the lives of female children by providing them financial assistance and other benefits. The programme’s primary objectives are to improve the attitude around the birth of a female child in a family and to prevent female infanticide. 

This article explores the features of the Balika Samriddhi Yojana, including its benefits, inclusions, eligibility, and how to apply online for Balika Samriddhi Yojana. Read on!

What is Balika Samriddhu Yojana?

The Government of India introduced the Balika Samriddhi Yojana as an initiative to improve the status of female children in families below the poverty line. The initiative is among the several schemes introduced by the Government for the welfare of its citizens. The initiative’s origins date back to 1997, and the initiative was one of the endeavours to promote women and child development. 

The policy applies to girls born on or after August 15, 1997, in rural and urban areas. It improves the quality of primary and secondary education for girl children born in the economically weaker sections of society.

Objectives of Balika Samriddhi Yojana

Balika Samriddhi Yojana translates to ‘a welfare scheme for female children. It works to uplift the girl child and strives to save them from social stigma and unfair treatment. Its objectives include:

• Spreading awareness about positively changing their attitude towards a girl child and her mother
• Motivating and supporting more families to send their daughters to school, educate them, and improve the retention rate of female students in schools.
• Helping with positive upbringing and guidance until a girl of the legal marriageable age
• Empowering the girls with skill-based education and encouraging them to be financially independent

Benefits of Balika Samriddhi Yojana

In the early stages of its inception, the Balika Samriddhi Yojana entailed incentives for the family of the girl child. This included a cash gift of Rs. 500 for the mother of a girl child besides annual scholarships for her education. However, the Government restructured the scheme between 1999 and 2000. This redesigning aimed to make it more beneficial and to ensure that the proper beneficiaries avail the provisions.

With the latest amendment, the girls who are registered for Balika Samriddhi Yojana receive the following benefits:

• A one-time grant of Rs. 500 to the family post the birth of the girl child.
• Yearly scholarships for girls who were born on or after August 15, 1997. The scholarship amount is as follows:
• Rs. 300 for each class (subject) for girls studying in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd standards.
• Rs. 500 per annum for girls studying in 4th standard.
• Rs. 600 per annum for girls studying in 5th standard.
• Rs. 700 for each class for girls studying in 6th and 7th standard.
• Rs. 800 per annum for girls studying in 8th standard. 
• Rs. 1,000 per annum for girls studying in 9th and 10th standards.

Eligibility Criteria for Balika Samriddhi Yojana Registration

Female children can be registered under Balika Samriddhi Yojana if they meet the following eligibility criteria:

• If they belong to rural families identified under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. This is determined based on BPL identification according to Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana
• If they belong to families from urban slums. These girls are eligible for the scheme irrespective of identification
• If they belong to families with low-income jobs such as rag picking, selling fruits and vegetables
• If they meet the date of birth criteria for the Balika Samriddhi Yojana

Note: Only two girls per family are eligible for Balika Samriddhi Yojana benefits.

How To Apply for Balika Samriddhi Yojana

Families meeting the eligibility criteria can apply to Balika Samriddhi Yojana online and offline. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) executes the scheme in rural areas through Anganwadis, and the respective health departments execute the scheme in urban areas. Below are the steps for the application:

Step 1: Eligible candidates from rural and urban areas need to fill out separate forms. Families in rural areas can get the form from Anganwadi workers. Families in urban areas can contact the functionaries in the respective health department. The forms for Balika Samriddhi Yojana can also be accessed online.

Step 2: Beneficiaries must fill the form with all details and submit them through the same channel from where they received it. 

Step 3: Submit the duly filled form to the health functionaries and Anganwadi.

Documents Required for Balika Samriddhi Yojana

To enrol in Balika Samriddhi Yojana, families must furnish the following documents in addition to the duly filled application form:

• Birth certificate issued by a hospital or the Government.
• Address proof of parents or legal guardians (passport, driving license, Voter ID card, Ration card, or electricity/telephone bill).
• Identity proof of parents or legal guardians (passport, PAN card, Voter ID card, Aadhar card).

Also Read: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: PMJAY Scheme Features And Eligibility Criteria

Rules and Procedure for Deposit and Withdrawal under Balika Samriddhi Yojana

The deposit and withdrawal of funds into beneficiary accounts under Balika Samriddhi Yojana follow the procedure below:

Step 1: The Department of Women and Child Welfare disburses payments to the State Governments and the Union Territory Administrations.

Step 2: The State/ Union Territory Administration then disburses the funds to the implementing agencies, who release them to the beneficiary accounts. 

When the elected bodies change, municipalities and gram panchayats assume the responsibility to identify beneficiary females under the scheme. They take care of the dissemination of scheme data and application procedures with the help of voluntary firms. They also enlist eligible applications. 

Interest Rates for Balika Samriddhi Yojana

The amount received post-birth, and the annual scholarships under Balika Samriddhi Yojana are deposited into the beneficiary account. These accounts are generally opened in a public sector bank or the post office. The Government intends that the funds earn as much interest as possible when it is deposited in the account. The family is thus advised to invest in Government savings schemes like the PPF or NSC. 

The amount collected can be used to buy books and other essentials like uniforms for the child. This amount can also be used to pay insurance premiums under Bhagyashri Balika Kalyan Bima Yojana.

Also Read: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): Benefits, Features And More

Things to Remember Before Applying for Balika Samriddhi Yojana 

Here are some essential points to remember before you apply for Balika Samriddhi Yojana online:

• Parents or the legal guardian of the girl child will need to furnish all necessary documents to get approval for registration under Balika Samriddhi Yojana.
• The payout of the amount accumulated under the scheme will be made only after the girl turns 18 years of age and is unmarried until she turns 18.
• In case of marriage before the 18th birthday, the girl will not get any amount from the scholarship amount. She can withdraw the post-birth grant of Rs. 500.
• In the unfortunate event of death before marriage, the family is entitled to the entire amount accumulated and interest accrued.

Final Word

The Balika Samriddhi Yojana is one of the many Government schemes aimed to uplift the status of the girl child and get her the rights she deserves. Balika Samriddhi Yojana is an excellent initiative in the right direction and has helped numerous families educate their daughters. The number of beneficiaries and the amount paid out have increased steadily over the years since the scheme’s inception. The simple application procedure makes accessing the benefits easier for many families. 

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