If the state governments have started following Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme so closely, it only adds to the overall popularity of the scheme. The state of Maharashtra has recently launched a welfare scheme for the girl child of Maharashtra with the name of ‘Bhagyashree Yojana’, which is an extension to Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
Bhagyashree scheme comes with more or less the same features as that of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana with extra benefit of the fact that it is a scheme launched for the girl children whose parents are living below the poverty line.
The details of the scheme are not yet published to higher extent, however, we are sure that the Women and Child Welfare Departments of other states would take this initiative enthusiastically and come up with similar schemes in their states too.
As per the words of Pankaja Munde, the Women and Child Welfare Minister of Maharashtra, the scheme will not scrap the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana but the ministry would simply redesign the scheme and would make it more specific to people living below poverty line.
This way, the state government can make this scheme more relevant since people living below poverty line are the ones who actually need such financial security.
Unlike Sukanya Samriddhi Account, where anyone irrespective of annual income can get an account for their girl child, Bhagyashree Scheme is specifically for BPL population. What is quite amazing with Bhagyashree scheme is that the state government would contribute a sum of Rs 21,200 to each account of the girl child, which would grow out to become Rs 1 lakh at the time when the girl reaches an age of 18 years.
Apart from that, parents are free to deposit any amount for the financial security of their girl child from time to time.
The brand ambassador of the scheme is none other than the famous actress Bhagyashree, who name conjures with the scheme. The scheme was recently launched by the chief minister of Maharashtra along with the actress and minister of Women and Child Welfare.