International Women's Day 2024: These central government schemes are aimed at making women financially strong

International Women's Day 2024: Today is International Women's Day (March 8). The day celebrates the long empowerment journey women have covered in the short time despite having societal pressure and odds against them. It marks their resilience to stay strong in testing times and emerge triumphant in less resources. In the same breath, the central government also run a lot of schemes that are aiming at aiding women to make them financially independent. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Mahila Samman Savings Certificate, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and Save Daughter Educate Daughter are some of such schemes. In this write-up, know more about such central government schemes.

International Women's Day 2024: Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a post office scheme, aiming for the financial empowerment of a girl child.

Parents with a daughter less than 10 years old can open a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account in their daughter's name.

One can invest a minimum of Rs 250 to a maximum of Rs 1.50 lakh in a financial year.

The scheme gives 8.2 per cent interest rate calculated and compounded annually.

The maturity period is 15 years, and the scheme matures when the girl child attains the age of 21.

One can use that amount to educate her girl child or in her marriage.

It also gives tax benefits on deposits up to Rs 1.50 lakh in a financial year.

If one invests Rs 1.50 lakh annually in the scheme, they can accumulate a fund of Rs 69.80 lakh in 15 years.  

International Women's Day 2024: Free Sewing Machine Scheme

The scheme aims to aid economically weaker women in rural and urban areas.

In the scheme, a free sewing machine is provided to women interested in sewing and embroidery.

Women between the ages of 20 and 40 can apply for Free Sewing Machine Scheme.

The income of the husband of the woman applying for the scheme should not be more than Rs 12,000 a month.

International Women's Day 2024: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

The government started Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in 2016.

Under this scheme, Centre provides a cooking gas cylinder to women of poor families.

It benefits women in their health as women using gas don't have to burn wood or coal to cook their food.

International Women's Day 2024: Mahila Samman Savings Certificate

Mahila Samman Savings Certificate is a Post Office deposit scheme which is also centred around women's financial empowerment.

In this scheme, women can deposit a minimum of Rs 1000 or a maximum of up to Rs 2 lakh for two years.

The scheme offers an interest rate of 7.5 per cent.

One can withdraw money up to 40 per cent of the eligible balance after one year from the date of account opening.

International Women's Day 2024: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is a maternity benefit scheme.

In order to deal with the problem of undernutrition among women, the central government provides financial assistance of Rs 6,000 to pregnant lactating women.

The government sends this money directly to the women's bank accounts. To avail the benefit of this scheme, the pregnant woman should not be younger than 19 years.

In the first phase of this scheme, Rs 1000, Rs 2000 in the second phase, and Rs 2000 in the third phase are given to the pregnant women.

The last instalment of Rs 1000 is given by the government to the hospital at the time of child's birth.

International Women's Day 2024: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the scheme on January 22, 2015, in Panipat, Haryana.

The aim of this scheme is to stop the decline in the girl sex ratio and empower women.

The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resources.

The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme mainly targets the clusters in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Bihar, and Delhi.