National Scheme Of Incentive To Girls For Secondary Education

Brief The scheme aims to encourage enrolment and retention of girls aged 14–18 in secondary education by providing financial incentives, addressing high dropout rates caused mainly by socio-economic constraints and the inability of families to afford education costs. Objectives The National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education aims to encourage enrolment and retention of girls aged 14–18 years at the secondary level by supporting those who pass Class 8 but drop out due to socio-economic constraints. The scheme seeks to retain girls up to Class 12, addressing high dropout rates—50.8% up to Class 8 and 64% up to Class 10 (2004–05)—largely caused by families’ inability to afford the cost of girls’ education. Eligibility Criteria "1. The applicant should be a girl child. 2. The applicant should be from Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe SC/ST 3. The applicant should have passed class 8th from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidhalayas (irrespective of whether they belong to Scheduled Castes or Tribes) 4. The applicant should have enrolled for class 9th in State/UT Government, Government-aided, or local body schools in the academic year 2008-09 onwards. Exclusions 1. Married girls will be excluded from the scheme. 2. Girl children studying in private unaided schools are proposed to be excluded since a majority of such schools charge high fees and therefore, parents of such girl students may not require the financial assistance that is being offered under this scheme. 3. Students enrolled in schools run by Central Government are also being excluded from the scheme, as these children are either fully provided for already, or are those of Central Government employees, who can afford the education of their children, without further support." Benefits A sum of ₹3000/- (Rupees three thousand only) would be deposited under term deposit/ fixed deposit in a public sector bank or in a post office in the name of every eligible girl child. The term/ period of the deposit may be counted from the date of deposit to the date on which the girl child attains the age of 18 years. No premature withdrawal will be allowed.