Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY) is a government scheme launched in 1992 to provide financial assistance to families below the poverty line for the education and welfare of their girl child. The scheme was later subsumed under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme in 2007.
The main features of the scheme include:
- Eligibility: The scheme is open to families below the poverty line with a girl child aged 6 to 18 years.
- Financial Assistance: The scheme provides financial assistance of Rs. 500 per year for the education and welfare of the girl child.
- Use of Funds: The funds can be used for the girl child's education, health, and nutrition needs.
- Beneficiary Identification: Beneficiaries are identified through a process of community mobilization and survey by Anganwadi workers and the ICDS scheme.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: The scheme is monitored and evaluated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the state governments.
The scheme aimed to improve the status and well-being of the girl child by providing financial assistance for her education and welfare. The scheme also aimed to change social attitudes towards the girl child and to promote gender equality. The scheme, however, has been subsumed and its functionality has been integrated with ICDS scheme.
