category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) being run by the Women and Child Development Department is proving beneficial for the golden future of daughters in the state. Daughters are the pride of the society and the state government is consistently making efforts to provide quality education and safe environment to the daughters across the state. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is the part of Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao programme implemented by the Central and State governments. Under this initiative, the account of girl child can be opened in the post office or bank. Giving information in this regard today, a spokesperson of the Women and Child Development Department said that SSY aims at financially securing the future of a girl child. This scheme provides interest benefit at rate of 7.6 and tax benefits under 80C of Income-tax Act, 1961. Parents can open up to two such accounts for their daughters. These accounts are valid for 21 years or until the girl child turns 18 and marries. The Spokesperson informed that the minimum deposit amount is Rs. 250 per financial year and the maximum amount is Rs. 1,50,000 per financial year. The account can be opened by the natural or legal guardian in the name of a girl child from the birth of the girl child till she attains the age of 10 years. A depositor can open and operate only one account in the name of a girl child. Money can be deposited through cash, check or draft only any number of times in a financial year. The Spokesperson said that the interest on the deposited amount in this scheme is calculated annually. Parents can deposit money in this account only for 14 years. The SSY has a lock-in period of 21 years from the time of opening of an account, which ensures the parent guardian do not use these funds for any other personal financial requirement and the maturity proceeds are paid to the girl child. Besides, for higher education, one premature withdrawal is allowed when a girl child attains the age of 18. However, the premature amount is restricted to 50 of the balance in the SSY account. He said that it is mandatory to have the birth certificate of the girl child, proof of address of the guardian and photo identity card (PAN card, Voter ID or Aadhaar card) to open the account of girl child. (editor dailyworld.in)