The Chief Minister’s Girl Child Protection Scheme
is a flagship initiative by the Government of Tamil Nadu, launched in 1992 to promote the welfare and empowerment of girl children. The scheme aims to prevent gender discrimination, encourage education, and ensure financial security for girls from economically disadvantaged families
🎯 Objectives of the Scheme
- Promote Education: Encourage enrollment and retention of children in schools, aiming for education up to at least the intermediate level.
- Delay Marriage: Advocate for girls to marry only after the age of 18.
- Support Family Planning: Encourage families to adopt small family norms, specifically having two girl children.
- Protect Rights: Safeguard the rights of girl children and provide social and financial empowerment.
- Strengthen Family Role: Enhance the family’s role in improving the status of the child.
💰 Financial Benefits
Scheme-I (For families with one girl child)
- Fixed Deposit: ₹50,000 deposited in the girl’s name with the Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
- Annual Incentive: ₹1,800 provided annually from the 6th year of deposit to support educational expenses.
- Maturity Benefit: On the girl’s 18th birthday, the fixed deposit amount along with accrued interest is disbursed, provided she appears for the 10th standard public examination.
Scheme-II (For families with two girl children)
- Fixed Deposit: ₹25,000 deposited in each girl’s name, totaling ₹50,000.
- Annual Incentive: ₹1,800 per girl annually from the 6th year of deposit.
- Maturity Benefit: Similar to Scheme-I, the amount is disbursed on the 18th birthday of each girl, contingent upon appearing for the 10th standard public examination
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Income Limit: The family’s annual income should not exceed ₹72,000.
- Family Composition: The family should have only one or two girl children and no male children.
- Sterilization Norm: At least one parent must have undergone sterilization before turning 40 years of age.
- Residency Requirement: Applicants must be residents of Tamil Nadu for at least 10 years.
- Educational Requirement: The girl child must appear for the 10th standard public examination to avail the maturity benefits
📝 Application Process
Online Application:
- Visit the official website: https://www.tnsocialwelfare.tn.gov.in/en.
- Click on the “Register” option on the homepage.
- Fill in the required details and submit the application
Offline Application:
- Visit the nearest Common Service Center (CSC).
- Complete the biometric verification process.
- Submit the necessary documents and application form.
- Obtain a receipt acknowledging the submission
Required Documents:
- Birth certificate of the girl child.
- Income certificate of the family.
- Sterilization certificate of the parent (if applicable).
- Proof of residence in Tamil Nadu for at least 10 years
Who Is Eligible?
The Tamil Nadu government has established clear eligibility criteria to ensure the scheme reaches the families who need it most:
- Annual Income:
The total annual income of the family should not exceed ₹72,000. - Number of Children:
Only families with one or two girl children and no male children are eligible. - Parental Sterilization:
At least one parent must undergo sterilization before the age of 40 to promote responsible family planning. - Residency:
The family must have been residents of Tamil Nadu for at least 10 years. - Educational Condition:
To receive the maturity benefit, the girl child must appear for the 10th standard public examination and remain unmarried until 18.
Final Thoughts
The Chief Minister’s Girl Child Protection Scheme is more than a policy—it’s a beacon of hope. It’s a promise that daughters matter. That their dreams are worth nurturing. That a brighter, more equitable future is possible.
If you’re a resident of Tamil Nadu and are eligible, or if you know someone who might be, don’t hesitate—spread the word, apply, and take a small but powerful step toward empowering the next generation of women.
