New Delhi, Oct. 29 -- For several women in Chhattisgarh, the monthly assistance received under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana is helping them meet household expenses while setting aside money for their daughters' education and future through Sukanya Samriddhi accounts.

Pramila Potami, a resident of Bodri village in Dantewada district, said saving for her daughter's education had once seemed difficult because of limited family income. The monthly assistance has enabled her to begin building savings.

"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 hopes the savings will help finance her daughter's higher education and future needs.

In Parri village of Surajpur development block, Anju Kushwaha sets aside part of the monthly assistance for her daughter's account and uses the remainder for household expenses. She said the regular payment 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 made it difficult for parents to save for their children's future.

Under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, the Chhattisgarh government provides eligible women with financial assistance of Rs 1,000 a month. Launched on March 10, 2024, in the virtual presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme covers around 68 lakh women.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai released its 32nd instalment on October 8, taking cumulative disbursements under the scheme to more than Rs 20,708.11 crore.

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, launched in 2015 under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, enables parents and legal guardians to save for a girl child's future education and marriage expenses.

For these beneficiaries, the monthly assistance is providing support for immediate needs while helping them work towards longer-term financial goals for their daughters.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.