International Daughter’s Day: Over 500 villages declared Sukanya Samriddhi Grams

Gujarat : On the occasion of International Daughter’s Day, celebrated on September 22, the North Gujarat region has made significant strides in empowering young girls through the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, a flagship initiative launched under the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign. Postmaster General of North Gujarat, Krishna Kumar Yadav, revealed that more than 500 villages in the region have been declared as Complete Sukanya Samriddhi Grams, with all eligible girls under the age of 10 having their accounts opened in post offices.

A milestone in financial inclusion

In these villages, the local post office is ensuring that every eligible girl has a Sukanya Samriddhi account opened in her name. Krishna Kumar Yadav further mentioned that in cases where a daughter is born in any of these villages, postmen promptly visit the family to open the girl’s account, ensuring no child is left behind. So far, over 4.50 lakh Sukanya Samriddhi accounts have been opened in the North Gujarat region, and 15.22 lakh accounts in the Gujarat circle, marking a massive leap towards financial inclusion and empowerment of girls.

Understanding Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015, is aimed at securing the future of daughters across India. Under this scheme, parents or guardians can open an account for girls up to 10 years of age in any post office, with a minimum deposit of Rs 250. A maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh can be deposited annually, and deposits are required for 15 years from the account’s opening. The account matures after 21 years, and currently offers an interest rate of 8.2 percent. The scheme also provides income tax exemptions on deposits.

Economic and social impact

Postmaster General Yadav emphasized that the scheme is more than just an investment vehicle—it’s a crucial step towards securing the bright and prosperous future of girls. The deposited amount will play a pivotal role in supporting the girl’s education, career, and marriage, contributing significantly to their empowerment. Yadav highlighted that this initiative aligns with the broader goal of promoting women’s empowerment and achieving a self-reliant India by economically enabling the next generation of daughters.

By running awareness campaigns in schools and hosting Dak Chaupals in villages, the Post Office department is ensuring that all eligible girls are brought into the fold of this scheme, marking a transformational shift in rural financial planning and girl-child empowerment.