Gandhinagar: Sharing more details about the NaMo Lakshmi scheme announced by Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai, Finance Department official JP Gupta, in reply to media queries, said that it is the first government scheme covering teenage female groups.

He said, ‘There are many other schemes for other age group women, but no scheme for teenage group females. The government has selected this group for the NaMo Lakshmi scheme because if females at this age are not in good health, nutrition, and education, then it can impact their next generation adversely.’

‘The government is going to launch this scheme through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode of delivery. The government has decided to deliever a Rs. 50,000 package in total per female beneficiary, which includes Rs. 10,000 each when the beneficiary is a student of class 9 or class 10, and Rs. 15,000 each when the beneficiary is a student of class 11 or 12. Thus, in total, an eligible female beneficiary will get a Rs. 50,000 package,’ he added.

‘The only condition applied in this scheme shall be the family income. The government has planned to implement eligibility criteria below Rs. 6 lakh in annual income. A formal order will cover all details,’ he further said.

According to senior Finance department official, Aarti Kanwar, ‘NaMo Lakshmi scheme for class 9 to 12 female students will benefit around 10 lakh daughters. It will reduce school dropout and prove as a transformative scheme with nutrition elements covered in it. She said the female students will get money each month and also at the end of the cycle.’

In his budget speech on Friday, FM Kanubhai Desai said, “Adolescent girls of the current generation will be equal partners in the march towards Viksit Gujarat @2047. As mothers of future generations of citizens, adolescent girls have an important role to play in the advancement of an educated and healthy society.  To ensure the provision of adequate and qualitative nutrition, health services, and education to girls, I propose the NaMo Lakshmi Yojana. Under this scheme, girls will get ₹10,000 annually while studying in classes 9 and 10 and ₹15,000 annually while studying in classes 11 and 12. In effect, adolescent girls studying in government-granted and private schools from classes 9 to 12, will be given ₹50,000 over the four years of their education.”

“The main aims of this scheme are to increase enrolment, to reduce dropouts and also to improve the nutritional status of these adolescent girls. Moreover, with the implementation of this scheme, the state will be able to achieve universal enrolment in secondary education just as the state has achieved universal enrolment in primary education. For this scheme, I propose a provision for ₹1250 crore for the year 2024-25.” the Desai added. DeshGujarat