GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1450
TO BE ANSWERED ON 8TH MAY, 2015
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR GIRL CHILD
1450. SHRI RAJKUMAR DHOOT:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Ministry proposes to open one crore savings accounts for girl child in Maharashtra and rest of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) how these accounts will be beneficial to the girl child?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a), (b) & (c) A new Small Savings Scheme called "Sukanya Samriddhi Account" for the welfare of Girl Child has been launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 22nd January, 2015 in Panipat, Haryana. The account can be opened in Post Offices as well as in banks. With an aim to spread awareness and to provide benefit of such a good scheme to more and more number of girl child, the Department of Posts set target to open one crore Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts in the country, including Maharashtra. So far, more than 38 Lakhs accounts have been opened in different Post Office. The details of the scheme and facilities provided in these accounts which will be beneficial to the girl child are at Annexure-I.
ANNEXURE-I
i. ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account’ is a new Small Savings Scheme for girl child.
ii. An account can be opened in the name of Girl Child under ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account’ (SSA) by Guardian/Natural Guardian. Birth certificate of the girl child has to be produced. The depositor (parents or guardian) has to submit his/her identity and address proofs.
iii. A Guardian can open only one account in the name of one girl child and maximum two accounts in the name of two different girl children. The natural or legal guardian can open two or three accounts if twin girls are born as second birth or triplets are born in the first birth itself.
iv. An account under SSA can be opened up to the age of 10 years only from the date of birth. The girl child who had attained the age of 10 years, one year prior to the commencement of this scheme shall also eligible to open the SSA.
v. Minimum amount for opening SSA is Rs 1000/- (subsequent deposit should be in multiple of Rs 100/-).
vi. A minimum of one thousand rupees shall 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 1.5 Lakh in a financial year.
vii. There is no limit on the number of deposits. The deposits in ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account’ can be made in the form of Cash or Demand Draft or Cheque.
viii. The interest rate for the financial year 2015-16 under ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account’ is 9.2%. The rate of interest is not fixed and will be notified by the Central Government on financial yearly basis.
ix. 50% (half of the fund) of the accumulated amount in ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account’ can be withdrawn for girl’s higher education and marriage after she attains 18 years of age.
x. ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Account’ can be closed after completion of 21 years.
xi. If account is not closed after maturity, balance will continue to earn interest as specified for the scheme from time to time.
xii. The account can be transferred anywhere in India if the girl shifts to a place other than city or locality where the account stands.
xiii. Investment in Sukanya Samriddhi Account has been covered under Section 80C of IT Act.
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