Lok Sabha Question No. 294 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-05
Subject: Financial Security at Birth for Girl Child
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 294

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2016

## FINANCIAL SECURITY AT BIRTH FOR GIRL CHILD

* 294.  DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is implementing or proposes to introduce any scheme with focus on financial security at birth for girl child;
- (b) if so, the details and the salient features thereof; and
- (c) the funds allocated/released and utilised under the scheme along with beneficiaries benefited during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

- (a) to (c) :  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION NO. 294 FOR 05.8.2016 DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU REGARDING FINANCIAL SECURITY AT BIRTH FOR GIRL CHILD.

(a) & (b) As informed by Department of Economic Affairs, a small saving scheme to cater to the requirements  of  education  and  marriage  namely  Sukanya  Samriddhi  Account  Scheme  was notified on 2.12.2014.  The natural or legal guardian may open the account in the name of girl child from the birth of girl child till she attains the age of ten years. The scheme is applicable for the  first  two  girl  children  in  a  family.  The  account  may  be  opened  with  an  initial  amount  of rupees one thousand and maximum of Rs.1,50,000 may be deposited in SSA in a financial year. Amount deposited under this scheme is  exempted  from  Income  Tax.  For  this  account  rate  of interest is applicable as notified by the Government from time to time and calculated on yearly compounded  basis.  The  account  shall  mature  after  21 years of opening,  if not closed prematurely.  Part  withdrawals  from  the  account  can  be  made  for  the  purposes  of  higher education of the girl child.

Sukanya Samriddhi Account scheme is run by Union Government through Post Offices and authorised branches of commercial banks. There are many specific schemes run by State/UT Governments for securing a bright future for the girl child.

(c)        No fund allocation is required for Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme. The number of beneficiaries is equal to the number of accounts opened under the scheme. The State wise and year wise details of the accounts open is annexed.

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## Annexure referred to in reply to Part (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 294 for 5.8.2016 regarding financial security at birth for girl child.

## State-wise and Year-wise number of accounts form 2014-15 to 2016-17

| State             |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 ( upto June, 2016 |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh    |    132687 |    316692 |                        9992 |
| Telangana         |     94104 |    202859 |                       11086 |
| Assam             |     47799 |     99805 |                        6735 |
| Bihar             |     12974 |    253458 |                       22836 |
| Chhattisgarh      |      7868 |    136515 |                       11854 |
| Delhi             |     27349 |     88106 |                        2866 |
| Gujarat           |     60139 |    127121 |                        5025 |
| Haryana           |     71166 |    186223 |                        8266 |
| Himachal Pradesh  |     23141 |    105385 |                        4805 |
| J&K               |     25947 |     91933 |                        1761 |
| Jharkhand         |    109036 |    315855 |                       18259 |
| Karnataka         |    509408 |    393502 |                       20892 |
| Kerala            |    122307 |    178669 |                        8786 |
| M.P.              |     78641 |    244985 |                       20586 |
| Maharashtra       |    213983 |    371404 |                       20856 |
| Goa               |      7034 |     14059 |                         930 |
| Arunachal Pradesh |       144 |      6199 |                         610 |
| Meghalaya         |        39 |      2854 |                         308 |
| Mizoram           |       261 |      1739 |                         138 |
| Manipur           |      3314 |     14490 |                         921 |
| Nagaland          |       469 |      2889 |                         155 |
| Tripura           |      1227 |     12493 |                        1322 |
| Odisha            |     54884 |    236651 |                       12019 |
| Punjab            |     58562 |    154233 |                        6080 |
| Rajasthan         |     45858 |    254982 |                       25130 |
| Tamil Nadu        |    611835 |    623399 |                       32585 |
| Uttar Pradesh     |    228725 |    749538 |                       31140 |
| Uttarakhand       |     63729 |    168763 |                        4753 |
| West Bengal       |    168483 |    384989 |                        9485 |
| Sikkim            |      1129 |      3948 |                         173 |
| Total             |   2782242 |   5743738 |                      300354 |

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