Sukanya Samriddhi scheme launched

Odisha Channel Bureau New Delhi, Jan 22: The Sukanya Samriddhi Account scheme was launched on the occasion of the launch of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Panipat in Haryana today.The scheme provides an opportunity and invites the parents to have a special account in the name of the girl child in the family and spare some money out of their savings to be deposited in that account.The scheme, therefore, primarily ensures equitable share to the girl child in the resources and savings of the family in which she is generally discriminated as against a male child.Sukanya Samriddhi Account can be opened in the name of a girl child any time from her birth till she attains the age of 10 years with a minimum deposit of Rs.1000 and thereafter any amount in multiple of Rs.100 can be deposited.For one time, a girl child who has attained the age of 10 years prior to one year from the date of introduction of this scheme is also eligible under the scheme.A maximum of Rs.1,50,000 can be deposited in a financial year.The account can be opened in any post office or authorised branches of commercial banks across the country by producing birth certificate of the girl child.The account holder girl child will be able to operate the account herself on attaining the age of 10 years.The account will remain operative for 21 years from the date of opening of account or marriage of the girl child after attaining 18 years of age whichever is earlier.To meet the requirement of higher education expenses of the account holder girl child, partial withdrawal of 50 % of the balance would be allowed after the girl child has attained the age of 18 years.The provision of not allowing withdrawal from the account till the girl child attains the age of 18 years has been kept to prevent early age marriage of girls.To motivate parents to open an account in the name of girl child and for her welfare to deposit maximum of their savings up to the prescribed limits, higher rate of interest @ 9.1 % is proposed to be given on the deposits on annually compounded basis with income tax concessions in this financial year.Collections received under National Savings Schemes provide resources to finance developmental plans of Centre and State Governments.Therefore, the money deposited in these accounts will further be available to the Government, to finance infrastructure development and contribute in increasing savings rate in the country.