Government launches special deposit scheme ( Sukanya Samriddhi Account ) for Girl child

NEW DELHI: The government has notified 'Sukanya Samriddhi Account', a new small savings instrument for the girl child that could be operated by her after the age of 10. 

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced the scheme in his budget speech in July. 

The account can be opened and operated by the natural or legal guardian of a girl child till she attains the age of 10, after which she can herself operate it but deposits in the account may be made by the guardian or any other person or authority. 

The account could be opened in a post office or a public sector bank. A depositor may open and operate only one account in the name of a girl child under these rules after furnishing birth certificate of the girl child along with other documents relating to identity and residence proof of the depositor. 

Natural or legal guardian of a girl child will be allowed to open accounts for two girl children only except if the depositor has twin girls as second birth or if the first birth itself results into three girl children. 

The government will notify interest rate on this scheme every year. The account may be opened with an initial deposit of Rs 1,000 and the reafter any amount in multiples of Rs 100 may be deposited, subject to the condition that a minimum ofRs 1,000 will be deposited in a financial year but the total money deposited in an account on a single occasion or on multiple occasions shall not exceed Rs 150,000 in a financial year. 

Deposits may be made till completion of 14 years from the date of opening of the account, the notification said. The account shall mature on completion of 21 years from the date of opening of the account or if the girl gets married before that. 

Withdrawals up to 50% will be allowed prior to maturity for high education and marriage