The Maharashtra government today approved an insurance scheme 'Sukanya' for girl child born to below poverty line (BPL) families.
The scheme under which the girl child would get an amount of Rs 1 lakh to finance her education after she completes 18 years of age was approved at a Maharashtra state cabinet meeting here.
As per the scheme, if a girl child is born in a BPL family after January 2014, the Maharashtra government would deposit an amount of Rs 21,200 in her name, in a bank.
"The scheme's objective is to provide monetary help for higher education of girls from economically and socially backward families. The scheme will provide Rs 1 lakh on maturity after the girl completes her 18 years of age. The amount can be used only for the purpose of education," an official from the Maharashtra women and child development department said.
The estimated expenditure on the scheme would be Rs 576 crore, the official said.
