Some beneficiaries of Chhattisgarh’s Mahtari Vandan Yojana are setting aside part of their monthly financial assistance for their daughters’ education and future needs. By depositing money into Sukanya Samriddhi accounts, these women are using the regular payments to build savings while continuing to meet household expenses.The experiences of beneficiaries in Dantewada, Raipur, Surajpur and Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai districts illustrate how families with limited incomes are allocating the assistance towards long-term financial goals. Their savings plans vary, with some depositing the entire monthly amount and others dividing it between household costs, school requirements and savings.Monthly assistance supports education savingsPramila Potami, a resident of Bodri village in Dantewada district, said saving for her daughter’s education had previously been difficult because of limited household income. She said the monthly assistance had enabled her to start putting money aside in a Sukanya Samriddhi account.“Our income is not such that we can save anything. The aid is a big support and the savings in the Sukanya account will help pay for my daughter’s education,” she said.In Raweli village of Raipur district, Meena Nishad said she deposits the Rs 1,000 received every month under the scheme into her daughter Mahima’s Sukanya Samriddhi account. She intends to use the savings towards her daughter’s further studies and future needs.Families balance savings and household expensesAnju Kushwaha, from Parri village in Surajpur development block, deposits part of her monthly assistance into her daughter’s account and uses the remainder for household expenses. She said receiving the payment regularly had given her greater confidence to save.Deepali Markam of Baghmara village in Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district divides the assistance between her children’s school requirements and savings for her daughter. She said limited household resources often make it difficult for parents to save for future education expenses, but the monthly payment had enabled her to contribute more directly to both priorities.Mahtari Vandan Yojana covers 68 lakh womenUnder the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, the Chhattisgarh government provides eligible women with financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per month. The scheme was launched on March 10, 2024, in the virtual presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.According to the figures provided, the scheme covers approximately 68 lakh women. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai released its 32nd instalment on October 8, taking cumulative disbursements beyond Rs 20,708.11 crore.Sukanya Samriddhi accounts offer a savings routeLaunched in 2015 under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a small savings scheme designed to help parents and legal guardians save for a girl child’s future education and marriage expenses.For the women featured, deposits into these accounts form part of their efforts to plan for future costs while managing present household needs. The amount each family can save depends on its income and expenses, with beneficiaries choosing different ways to divide their monthly assistance.
