Dhanalakshmi scheme

In a short span, it received more than 5,000 applicants in 11 backward states in India. The scheme's primary focus was to reduce the amount of female infanticide cases - which is still at an alarming rate in most states in the country.

The scheme also aimed at doing away with child marriage by offering parents an attractive insurance cover, and encouraging parents to educate their children as well as covering certain medical expenses for girl babies. The aim of the scheme was to value the life of a girl child and not treat them as a liability.

Eligibility Criteria to avail the Dhanlakshmi Scheme 

The Dhanalakshmi Scheme's eligibility requirements are as follows: 

1.  Female children born after 8 November 2008 are eligible for the programme. 
2. All girl children are welcome, regardless of their socioeconomic status. 

1. No matter how many girls there are in a family, every female child is eligible. 
2. The young person must be enrolled in the vaccination programme. 
3. The young lady must reside in India. 

Benefits of Dhanalakshmi Scheme

1. All girl children born after November 8, 2008, and registered in the scheme and under the government were given an initial cash incentive of Rs.5,000.
2. For girl babies between 6 weeks to 24 months, an immunization cash incentive totally to Rs.1,250 was given. This covered the cost that parents would have to bear to immunize their child in the backward states of India. 

1. The scheme covered the education costs of the girl child, from enrollment to retention in school till grade 8. For enrollment in school, parents were given a cash incentive of Rs.1,000. From class 1 to class 5, a cash incentive of Rs.500 each year was given to the parents. For the secondary school education of the girl child, parents were given a cash incentive of Rs.750 every year. A total of Rs.5,750 was given as a cash incentive to educate the girl child till 8th standard.
2. In order to prevent child marriage, the scheme offered parents an insurance cover of Rs.1 lakh when the girl turns 18-years-old and if the girl hasn't yet been married.
3. The cash incentives were conditional depending on the age of the girl. For example, if the girl child is already in Grade 1, then she is eligible to receive the cash incentives for her education and not for immunization and the birth registration.

The scheme, though it is non-existent as of now, focused on women empowerment in the backward states of the country, and in a way put the spotlight on girl children, highlighting the value of their life. More than 5000 girls were recipients of the cash incentives this scheme offered.

Dhanlakshmi Scheme implementation 

With an emphasis on states dealing with problems like female infanticide and child marriages, the Dhanalakshmi Scheme was initially introduced as a pilot scheme. It was implemented in specific areas of the states that had been identified as having child sex ratios (CSR) that were unfavourable relative to the rest of the nation. The following eleven undeveloped blocks spread over seven states were subject to this program: 

1. Punjab 
2. Bihar 
3. Uttar Pradesh 
4. Chhattisgarh 
5. Jharkhand 

1. Odisha 
2. Andhra Pradesh 

The Department of Women and Child Development of the corresponding state governments was responsible for the administration and implementation of this programme, as well as cash transfers. The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) was in charge of the insurance maturity component. 

The Dhanalakshmi Scheme attracted a lot of interest at first, with some 5,000 families signing up to take advantage of the programme soon after its launch in 2008. The Dhanalakshmi Scheme, however, progressively lost favour and is no longer actively implemented as other programmes with improved features were established to address comparable issues. 

The Dhanlaxmi Yojana Implementation Procedure 

The Dhanlaxmi Scheme is implemented in particular districts and blocks thanks to cooperation with the state department in charge of the project. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has allotted cash for the procedure, which is well-structured. Cash transfers for programme execution are received and disbursed by the state through a special account. 

 The state department in charge of carrying out the scheme makes beneficiary selection at the local level. The fundamental steps are outlined in the following steps: 

1. In order to determine which individuals are eligible based on their annual financial needs, district authorities conduct surveys in a few selected blocks. 
2.  Following the acquisition of a utilisation certificate, funds are distributed in two payments. 
3. Banks or post offices are permitted by the state department to register beneficiaries and transfer financial benefits. This is dependent on fulfilling a few requirements, one of which is obtaining a verification certificate from the proper authorities. 

1. A beneficiary account is set up in the name of the mother, or, in the event that the mother is deceased, the father. 
2. Beneficiaries own a booklet containing blank verification certificates bearing unique numbers as well as a CCT Beneficiary Registration Card. 
3. Verifying authorities, chosen jointly by state and district authorities, attest to the fulfilment of requirements for the cash transfer.