MHRD Incentives To Girls For Secondary Education : Ministry of Human Resource Development

Organization : Ministry of Human Resource Development
Scheme Name : Incentives To Girls For Secondary Education
Applicable For : All SC/ST girls who pass class VIII
Applicable State/UT : All India

Website : http://mhrd.gov.in/incentives
Scheme Details :  https://www.scholarships.net.in/uploads/4890-incentive.pdf

Incentives To Girls For Secondary Education :

To promote enrolment of girl child in the age group of 14-18 at secondary stage, especially those who passed Class VIII and to encourage the secondary education of such girls, the Centrally Sponsored Scheme. National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education was launched in May,2008.

Update :
MHRD Incentive For Girl Child 2017-18 : www.scholarships.net.in/14450.html

The Scheme Covers :
** All SC/ST girls who pass class VIII and
** Girls, who pass class VIII examination from Kastrurba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (irrespective of whether they belong to Scheduled Castes or Tribes) and enroll for class IX in State/UT Government, Government-aided or local body schools in the academic year 2008-09 onwards.
** Girls should be below 16 years of age ( as on 31st March) on joining class IX
** Married girls, girls studying in private un-aided schools and enrolled in schools run by Central Government are excluded.

A sum of Rs.3,000/- is deposited in the name of eligible girls as fixed deposit. The girls are entitled to withdraw the sum along with interest thereon on reaching 18 years of age and on passing 10th class examination.

1. Introduction :

The Finance Minister in his budget announcement 2006-07 (Para-38-Credit of funds under Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas) has inter-alia stated as under: – “The initial results of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme launched in 2004 are encouraging. 1,000 new residential schools for girls from SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities will be opened in 2006-07.

I have provided Rs.128 crore, and I have agreed to provide an additional sum of Rs.172 crore during the year. I propose to provide a further Incentive to the girl child who passes the VIII Standard Examination and enrolls in secondary school. A sum of Rs.3, 000 will be deposited in her name, and she would be entitled to withdraw it on reaching 18 years of age.”

2. Background :

The above announcement has been made to promote the girl child’s enrolment of 14-18 years age group at secondary stage, who passes class VIII and subsequently drops out for various socio-economic reasons. The proposed scheme is further intended to retain such girl child up to class XII.

In the year 2004-05, the drop out rates of girls from classes I-VIII was about 50.8%. For classes I-X the drop out rate of girls was about 64 % in the same year. Hence, only 36% of the country’s girl students could be retained up to class-X. This is the combined result of several socio economic factors, but a major contributor is no doubt the inability of the parents to afford the cost of education of girl child.

3. Objective :

To establish an enabling environment to reduce the drop outs and to promote the enrolment of girl child belonging to SC/ST communities in secondary schools and ensure their retention up to the 18 years of age.

4. Target Group and components :

4.1 The Scheme will cover (i) all SC/ST girls who pass class VIII and (ii) girls, who pass class VIII examination from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidhalayas (irrespective of whether they belong to Scheduled Castes or Tribes) and enroll for class IX in State/UT Government, Government-aided or local body schools in the academic year 2008-09 onwards. Married girls will be excluded from the scheme.

Girl children studying in private unaided schools are proposed to be excluded since a majority of such schools charge high fees and therefore, parents of such girl students may not require the financial assistance that is being offered under this scheme. Students enrolled in schools run by Central Government are also being excluded from the scheme, as these children are either fully provided for already, or are those of Central Government employees, who can afford education of their children, without further support.

4.2 The girl child receiving incentive may be entitled to draw the amount on attainment of 18 years of age. The amount of incentive may be transferred to the Central Government’s account in the unfortunate event of the death of the student before attaining the age of 18 years.

5. Implementation Partners :

State/ UT Governments, Schools controlled and managed by State Governments, Local Bodies and Aided Private Schools and Panchayati Raj Institutions will be the implementing partners. The amount of incentive may be released to the State/ UT Governments for depositing, the same in favour of the eligible girls.

6. Financial Parameters :

A sum of Rs. 3000 (Rupees three thousand only) would be deposited under term deposit/ fixed deposit in a public sector bank or in a post office in the name of every eligible girl child. The term/ period of the deposit may be counted from the date of deposit to the date on which the girl child attains the age of 18 years. No premature withdrawal will be allowed.