The Chief Minister’s Girl Child Protection Scheme-I is an initiative by the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. This scheme aims to provide financial assistance to girl children from poor families, promote girl child education, support small family norms, and improve the child sex ratio by discouraging male child preference and eradicating female infanticide.
Benefits
- Fixed Deposit: An FD of ₹50,000/- is established in the girl child’s name.
- Annual Incentive: From the 6th year onwards, an incentive of ₹1,800/- per annum is provided.
- Maturity Benefit: The FD, along with accrued interest, is disbursed to the girl child at the age of 18, contingent on her appearing for the 10th standard exam.
Eligibility
- Single Female Child: The scheme is applicable only for one girl child per family; families with more than one female child or adopted male children do not qualify.
- Income Criteria: The annual income of the parents must not exceed ₹72,000/-.
- Family Planning: At least one parent must have undergone sterilization before reaching 40 years of age.
- Domicile Requirement: The parents or grandparents must be natives of Tamil Nadu, having resided in the state continuously for at least 10 years at the time of applying. This scheme is also applicable to the girl children of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees residing in Tamil Nadu’s refugee camps.
Application Process
Online – Via CSCs
- Document Preparation: Gather all necessary documents required for the application.
- Visit a CSC: Go to the nearest Common Service Center (CSC) and complete the biometric verification process.
- Complete Application Form: Fill in all the mandatory fields and upload the required documents.
- Acknowledge Submission: Request a receipt or acknowledgment from the CSC that includes the submission date, time, and a unique identification number if applicable.
Important: The application must be submitted before the child completes 3 years of age.
Documents Required
- Birth Certificate (issued by Corporation/Taluk Office/Municipality Office)
- Parent’s Age Proof (Birth Certificate, School Certificate, or Government Doctor’s Certificate)
- Sterilisation Certificate (issued by a Government or Private Hospital)
- Income Certificate (issued by the Taluk Office)
- No Male Child Certificate (issued by an Extension Officer (SW), Rural Welfare Officer, or Supervisor/Taluk Office for Chennai District only)
- Residential Certificate (issued by the Tahsildar)
- Community Certificate (issued by the Revenue Department)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: When can the deposited amount be accessed by the girl child?
A1: The matured amount, including the accrued interest, is given to the girl child when she turns 18 years, provided she appears for the 10th standard public exam.
Q2: Can families with more than one female child avail of the scheme?
A2: No, the scheme is limited to one girl child per family.
Q3: Who can I contact for more information about the scheme?
A3: For further details, applicants may contact the District Social Welfare Officers or visit the nearest Common Service Center (CSC).
Q4: Is there any time limit for submitting the application for the scheme?
A4: Yes, the application must be submitted before the child reaches 3 years of age.
Q5: What happens if the girl child does not appear for the 10th standard exam?
A5: If the girl child does not appear for the exam, the matured amount will not be disbursed as per the scheme’s conditions.
Q6: Can the deposited amount be withdrawn before the girl child turns 18?
A6: No, the FD is structured to mature only when the girl child turns 18 and meets the examination criteria.
Q7: Is there any penalty for not adhering to the conditions of the scheme?
A7: Yes, failure to meet the scheme conditions may result in penalties or the cancellation of benefits, as per the scheme guidelines.
Q8: Can families with adopted male children avail of the scheme?
A8: No, the scheme is exclusively for families with only one female child and no male child, including future adoptions.
Q9: Is there any provision for families with disabled girl children under the scheme?
A9: The scheme guidelines do not specifically mention provisions for disabled girl children; interested parties should consult the Department for clarification.
Q10: What happens if the girl child’s family moves out of Tamil Nadu before she turns 18?
A10: The eligibility requires the parents or grandparents to be domiciled in Tamil Nadu for at least 10 years at the time of application. Any changes in domicile should be clarified with the Department as it may affect the scheme benefits.
Q11: Is there any provision for families with more than one female child due to twins or triplets under the scheme?
A11: No, the scheme is strictly limited to one girl child per family regardless of multiple births.
Q12: Can families with a male child from a previous marriage avail of the scheme?
A12: No, the scheme is intended for families with only one girl child and no male child.
Q13: How is the interest on the fixed deposit calculated?
A13: The interest is calculated as per the prevailing rates set by the bank holding the fixed deposit and is accrued until the maturity of the deposit.