More than 2.45 lakh beneficiaries in Haryana have been enrolled under the ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account’ scheme during the first year after its launch.
Haryana Women and Child Development Minister Kavita Jain on Sunday said that the scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of the ‘Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao’ programme in Panipat on January 22, 2015. The scheme is aimed at addressing gender imbalance and discrimination against the girl child.
The Minister said that under this small savings scheme, parents or a legal guardian of a girl child may open a savings account of the child in any post office or authorised branches of banks. This account may be opened at any time between the birth of the girl child and until she attains the age of 10 years by paying Rs 1,000. The parent or guardian would have to deposit minimum Rs1,000 and maximum Rs1.50 lakh in a year. These deposits would be made until the child attains the age of 14 years.
She said that the Government would provide interest at the rate of 9.2 per cent per annum for 2015-16. This is one of the highest rates of interest being offered by the Government on small savings schemes, she added.
Jain said that the account would mature 21 years after its opening or at the time of marriage of the girl, whichever is earlier. The deposited money would then be refunded along with interest. After 21 years of opening of the account, in case Rs1,000 is deposited every month, the maturity amount would be about Rs6.16 lakh. In case Rs1,000 is deposited every year, the maturity amount would be Rs53,376 and in case Rs1.5 lakh is deposited every year, the maturity amount would be more than Rs80 lakh. She said that 50 per cent of the total amount deposited could be withdrawn after the child attains the age of 18 years.
Other benefits of the scheme included exemption on investments made under the scheme and eligibility for exemption under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Apart from this, the maturity amount would also be tax-free.
The Minister urged the people to open accounts in their daughters’ name under the scheme to ensure better future for them.