72,000 Smiles and Counting: Sukanya Yojana Lights Up Motihari’s Future

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is turning out to be a game-changer for girls in Bihar's Motihari district, where over 72,000 accounts have been opened under this flagship programme. Introduced in January 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme aims to ensure the future of girls by promoting long-term savings for their education and marriage.

 

The scheme provides an opportunity to parents to open an account for their daughter right from birth until the age of 10, with a very easy process needing only a birth certificate and some basic identification. With a minimum deposit of merely Rs 250 and a healthy 8.2% interest rate per year, the scheme is within reach of families from all walks of life. Deposits of up to Rs 1.5 lakh annually can be done, and the account matures after 21 years, giving a big sum for the future needs of the girl.

 

Residents in the area have praised the scheme, saying that it reduces the financial burden regarding daughters' education and marriage. The postal department is aggressively pushing the scheme in rural regions so that more families are able to take advantage of this revolutionary program.

 

Source: NDTV