New Delhi: The Delhi government has decided to discontinue the 2008 Ladli scheme and replace it with the ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojna’ from April, with an aim to provide financial aid and ensure academic growth of girls from economically weaker sections.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced that the existing ‘Delhi Ladli Yojana’, which was launched by the Department of Women and Child Development in 2008, will no longer exist and the government will launch the “upgraded scheme” on April 1 –‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojna’.
“We will launch the upgraded scheme on April 1, and shutdown the old Ladli scheme,” Gupta said addressing a press conference. She further said that a separate digital portal will be developed by the government for the revised scheme soon. “No girl will quit education for the lack of funds,” she added.
How much financial aid girls will get?
Under the new scheme, the government will provide financial assistance of up to Rs 56,000 per beneficiary. The amount will be deposited in phased installments linked to education and age-related milestones, beginning from birth and continuing through graduation or diploma-level studies, according to the Chief Minister.
She further said that the accumulated sum of money, invested through a structured financial instrument, will grow over time and be released directly into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account on maturity.
The financial support will be given to two girls per family. The benefit will not be, however, available if a beneficiary fails to meet educational milestones, such as passing Class 12 by the age of 21 and the amount will be credited back to the government.
After completing their educational milestones, the girls will get Rs 56,000 in their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts
The amount will increase to over Rs one lakh along with interest on maturity..
Who are eligible?
The government has slightly modified the eligibility conditions under the Delhi “Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana” from the earlier Ladli Scheme.
Under the new scheme, girls born in Delhi, whose families have been residing in the city for at least three years, with an annual family income not exceeding Rs 1.20 lakh, will be eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme.
Besides, benefits are limited to two surviving girl children per family. Girls may be registered under the scheme within one year of birth, or at later stages of admission to Class 1, 6, 9, 11, or upon admission to a recognised graduation or diploma course.
The new scheme is also applicable to girls pursuing graduation or professional diploma courses in government-recognised institutions anywhere in India, including universities and colleges affiliated with the UGC or other statutory bodies.
Many conditions, in respect of girls residing in child care institutions under government protection, have been relaxed, ensuring inclusion of vulnerable beneficiaries, said a Delhi CMO statement.
How the amount will be deposited
Under the scheme, Rs 11,000 will deposited as first instalment at the birth of the girl child, followed by Rs 5,000 each on admission to Class I followed by progression to class 6, 8, 10 and 12.
Another Rs 20,000 will be credited to the accounts of beneficiaries in phases in completion of diploma or graduation. The amount deposited in the name of the beneficiary will accrue interest over time, forming a substantial maturity value, it said.
The maturity amount may be claimed once the beneficiary has either passed Class 12 and attained 18 years of age, or completed graduation/diploma and attained 21 years of age. Unclaimed amounts will be forfeited and credited back to the government, it added.