kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalya (KGBV) scheme was launched in July 2004, for setting up residential schools at appear primary level for girls belonging predominantly to the SC, ST,OBC and minority communities. The scheme is being implemented in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) of the country where the female rural literacy is below the national average and gender gap in literacy is above the national average. The scheme provides minimum reservation of 75 per cent of the seats for girls belonging to SC, ST communities and priority for the remaining 25 per cent, is accorded to girls from families below poverty line. The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidylaya scheme was merged with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the XIth Plan with effect from 1st April, 2008. 

The scheme is not being implemented in the States and UTs of Andaman & Nicobar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Daman & Diu, Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Sikkim as no blocks in these states and UTs fall under the category of EBB. The criteria of eligible blocks had been revised with effect from 1st April, 2008 to include an additional 304 educationally backward blocks with rural female literacy below 30 per cent and 94 Towns/cities having minority concentration with female literacy rate below the national average . 

Girl Education

Education should be given to all girls, 

whether she urban or rural.

Girls are not less than boys, 

Education will take them up away.

Education should be given to all girls, 

It gives them respect and they live well.

Girls are becoming bold and bright stars, 

This is due to educatioN of girl.

Right to education is for all, 

EVEN FOR A GIRL! ! 

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao - A Success?

• Beti Bachao Beti padhao  is much talked about these days and with such huge expectations out of this social campaign, it needs a lot of civic body support for the expansion and execution of the various objectives BBBP promises to deliver.
• Many social and cultural norms like Sati, female foeticide, domestic violence and child marriage makes it harder for BBBP to erase such harsh notions from the minds of people.
• People need to trust BBBP in order to support its practices and objectives.With the migration of BBBP officials and administrators every now and then to various other offices, the followers of the campaign often bond weakly with the new faces and have weak relationships.
• The long driven problem stands in the basic mindset of the Indian society who looks down at their females as inferiors adding no value to the family households. BBBP still hasn’t visibly worked at this primary problem.
• In a world where people are hungry for results and don’t bother about a number of efforts put on any project, BBBP failed to deliver accurate statistics and how in future they plan to execute their plans.

Shortcomings of Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme

1. Lock in Period                                                                                                               

Sukanya Samriddhi Account is for long term investor only. Money deposited in this account matures only after 21 years. One needs to deposit money for 14 years under this account. Lock in period for 21 years is very high. If you are looking for short-term investment option you should not invest in this scheme.

2. No Online Facility

Another shortcoming of Sukanya Samriddhi Account is one cannot invest money online. One can invest money only by cheque, cash or DD. The government should think of enabling this account online as a part of Digital India movement.

3. Variable Interest Rates

Sukanya Samriddhi account offers 9.2% highest interest rate for FY2015-16, however, this interest rate is variable. Every year government will decide and declare interest rate. This variable interest rate may not beat inflation rate. Returns can be low compared to market-linked schemes.

4. No Premature Withdrawal

No premature Withdrawal is permissible under Sukanya Samriddhi Account. This makes scheme non-flexible in terms of offering liquidity.

5. Age Limit

The Sukanaya Samriddhi Account can only be opened for girl child up to 10 years of age. However, for FY 2014-15 one year relaxation is provided. This age limit should be at least 15 years.

6. No Loan Facility

This scheme does not offer loan facility. In case a financial position of parents is not good they can not avail loan facility against this account.

7. Account on the name of Girl Child

Sukanaya Samriddhi Account can be opened on the name of girl child only. This account can be operated by girl child only. In case girl child does not remain in control of parents it may create a problem.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojna

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) was launched by the Prime Minister on 22nd January, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana. BBBP addresses the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women empowerment over a life-cycle continuum. It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development.

The key elements of the scheme include Enforcement of PC & PNDT Act, nation-wide awareness and advocacy campaign and multi-sectoral action in select 100 districts (low on CSR) in the first phase. There is a strong emphasis on mindset change through training, sensitization, awareness raising and community mobilization on ground.

The NDA Government is trying to bring about a transformational shift in the way our society looks at the girl child. PM Modi in his Mann Ki Baat lauded the Sarpanch from Bibipur in Haryana who started a ‘Selfie With Daughter’ initiative. PM also urged people to share their selfies with daughters and it soon became a world-wide hit. People from across India and the world shared their selfies with daughters and this became a proud occasion for all those who have daughters.

Since the launch of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao , the multi-sectoral District Action Plans have been operationalized in almost all states. Capacity-buiding programmes and Trainings have been imparted to Trainers to further strengthen capacities of district level officials and frontline workers. Nine set of such trainings have been organized covering all States/UTs the Ministry of Women & Child Development from April-October, 2015.

Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme - Initiative For girls

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a savings scheme for the girl child launched as a part of the Government’s 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign, in 2015. A Sukanya Samriddhi Account can be opened any time before the girl child turns 10 years old. Under this scheme, a minimum of Rs. 1,000/- and a maximum of Rs. 1,50,000/- can be deposited in a year. 

There are a number of benefits of saving through Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.

High Interest Rate

Sukanya Samriddhi Account offers an interest rate of 8.6% for current financial year, i.e. FY 2016-17. When compared to other Small Savings Schemes, the interest rate offered by this plan is the highest.

Every year, the Govt. of India declares the Interest Rate for the current Financial Year. Interest on this is compounded yearly, which means that it will be credited yearly. The interest is accrued every month on the lowest balance between 5th and last day of the month.

Income Tax Savings

Income tax is exempted from the contribution to this account under Section 80 C of the Income Tax Act. Exemption on this scheme is available on the interest and also at the time of withdrawal. This scheme is under the authority of Department of Revenue (DOR). DOR will go for a legislative amendment. Moreover, this scheme will also be one of the most tax efficient ones.

Lock-in Period

Lock-in period is one of the best features of this scheme. Twenty one years is the maturity age of the account and this starts from the date when the account was opened or the Marriage of your Girl Child (either of the earlier one). Make sure that the age of your daughter is 18 years at the time of marriage.

The account cannot be operated after the marriage of your child. Parents are required to go for a premature withdrawal once their girl child attains 18 years of age and this can be done only if you require funds for Higher Education.

Only 50% of the account balance can be withdrawn in case of premature withdrawal at the end of the previous financial year. One can deposit money in the account till 14 years from the date of opening of the account. Moreover, the maturity period of the account is 21 years from the date of opening the account.

Guaranteed Maturity Benefits

When your Sukanya Samriddhi Account reaches the maturity date, the account balance including the interest accumulated will be directly paid to the policyholder (Girl Child in this case). This is primarily required to render financial independence to the Girl child and therefore acts as a efficient tool to empower them in India.

Interest even after Maturity

Sukanya Samriddhi Account gives interest to the policyholder even when the scheme reaches the maturity. A unique feature of Sukanya Samriddhi Account is that the interest is accrued on the account even after it is matured and this keeps on going till it is finally closed by the account holder.

Wrapping Up!

One of the best ways to build up a sufficient corpus for the education of your girl child is to keep aside a major portion of your savings or invest in equities. However, you only need to invest a small portion of the savings in Sukanya Samriddhi Account and reap the benefits in the long run. Looking at the high-interest rate, one can certainly build an adequate corpus to provide a brighter future to your girl child.

Girl's Right To Education Being Violated In Delhi Schools

Just nine months after the Right to Education Act was implemented in India, promising free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of  6-14, over 10,000 cases of violation have been registered by a child rights body in the capital. Some were denied admission, some were subjected to corporal punishment and others were denied the benefit of the economically weaker section quota.

According to the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) Chairman Amod Kanth the body has registered 10,500 cases of RTE Act violation since its implementation. "As per the RTE Act, the DCPCR monitors its implementation in Delhi. Cases were registered which involve violations of at least 15 kinds, like screening tests before admissions, corporal punishment, admission denial, mental harassment and others," Kanth said.

"Initially, suo motu cognisance of media reports were taken, but gradually parents started approaching  and now it seems like the floodgates have opened. Wherever required, we approach the school authority concerned and the compliance level is as high as 95 per cent," he added.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act was enforced April 1, 2010. The Act promises free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6-14. Among others, it says no child shall be denied admission for lack of documents or if the admission cycle in the school is over. Disabled students should also be enrolled in mainstream schools. The violations registered by DCPCR have been on the same lines.

• In one case, 10 girls living in Delhi's Azadpur area were denied admission to a school in Classes 6 to 8 because they could not provide school leaving certificates. The girls were tutored at home. "The commission intervened and issued a notice to the school principal after which the girls were admitted to the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Azadpur," a DCPCR document revealed.
• In another case, a physically handicapped father approached the commission after his daughter was denied admission under the EWS quota in a public school at Shalimar Bagh, northwest Delhi. In yet another instance, a Class 5 child was asked to take admission elsewhere on complaint of his "poor hygiene" and behaviour, prompting his parents to approach the commission. A notice was issued to the school after which the girl was given admission under the quota, while in the other case the child was taken back to the school after counselling.