‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’ evokes good response

Department of Post plans initiatives to promote the small deposit scheme

March 14, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:45 am IST - VIJAYAWADA:

The Central government’s ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’ (girl child prosperity scheme) launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few weeks ago has been receiving overwhelming response from the parents in the State.

Hundreds of applications have been pouring in to the Department of Posts (DoP), which is implementing the scheme across the country. Buoyed with the response, officials of DoP have set a target of covering over one lakh children by the end of this financial year and facilitate them to open their accounts. Special teams have been constituted to visit schools in the State and educate children about the advantages of the scheme, said DoP officials.

According to officials, as many as 9,000 schoolchildren opened their accounts till now in the State and efforts are on to organise melas in schools. Instructions are also given to the postmasters to identify eligible girls in their respective jurisdictions and advise the parents to open accounts. Plans have also been drawn up to distribute over one lakh pamphlets.

“We are leaving no stone unturned in educating people about the advantages of the scheme,” said Post-Master General, Vijayawada, M. Sampath.

He said that Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a small deposit scheme for girl child launched as part of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign. An account can be opened at any time from the birth of a girl till she attains the age of 10 years, with a minimum deposit of Rs.1000 in any post office or authorised branches of commercial banks. The subsequent deposit should be in multiples of Rs.100, he explained.

Documents relating to child’s age proof and address proof of parents or guardians should be submitted while opening account. In case a proper birth certificate is not available, a certificate of date of birth from the school headmaster or from hospital, where the child was born, can be submitted.

Interest rate will be 9.1 per cent for financial year 2014-15 and it will be calculated on a yearly basis and credited into account i.e. compounded every year up to completion of 14 years from date of opening the account.

Mr. Sampath said the account would remain active for 21 years from the date of opening of the account or marriage of the girl. Partial withdrawal of 50 per cent of the balance would be allowed after the girl has attended 18 years to meet the requirement of higher education or marriage expenses, he said adding more details could be collected from the nearest post office.

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