Cash Transfer Schemes for Women in India

Having a bank balance, being able to spend money without anyone’s permission or any kind of financial independence sounds like a dream for most women in India. However, for many Indian women, this dream is turning into reality through state governments providing an infusion of empowerment via free cash transfers to boost women financially.

Free cash transfer schemes are government initiatives that provide financial aid to women, particularly those in vulnerable and low-income groups by depositing money in their bank accounts every month. It not only provides them with a dose of extra cash but an extra control over their lives, the right to invest in their lives and live a better future than ever.

Various state governments have been continuously striving to empower and support women through these schemes across India. This promising initiative contributes to an equitable and inclusive society, where women make their own informed decisions.

OVERVIEW OF CASH TRANSFER SCHEMES FOR WOMEN BY STATE GOVERNMENTS

Delhi

Karnataka

Name of the scheme– Gruha Lakshmi

Announcement– 2023

Eligibility– The following women are eligible to get benefits:

• The women should belong to Antyodaya, BPL and APL families.

• The women identified as the head of a family in the Antyodaya, BPL and APL ration cards issued by the Government will receive the benefit. Women can make changes in ration cards and make them the head of the family to be eligible under this scheme.
• Only one woman in a family will get the scheme’s benefits.                                                        However, the following women are not eligible to receive the benefits of the scheme:
• Women government employees are not eligible to get the scheme’s benefits.
• Women taxpayers are not eligible to get the scheme’s benefits.
• If the husband of the woman is paying income tax or filing GST returns, the women of that family will not get the scheme’s benefits.

Application Process– The application can be made online by applying on the portal “Seva Sindhu Guarantee Scheme Portal”. Women can also submit applications offline in Grama One, Bangalore One or Karnataka One office, Bapuji Seva Kendras and Nada Kacheris.

Amount– Rs. 2000 every month

Documents Required– Aadhar Card, Ration Card, Aadhar Card of Husband, Bank Details and Mobile Number

Target No– 1.28 crore women

Nodal Department– Ministry of Women and Child Development

Total Budget– ₹18000 crores

Maharashtra

Name of the scheme– Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana

Announcement– 2024

Eligibility– The following women are eligible to get benefits:

• Beneficiary Women should be :-
• Unmarried Single Women. (If there is Only One in Family)
  • Married
• • Widowed
• • Divorced
• • Abandoned.

• The Age of Women should be between 21 years to 65 years.
• Beneficiary should have her own Bank Account.

       Following women are not eligible:

• If the Annual Family Income is more than Rs. 2,50,000/-.
• If any of the family member is a taxpayer.
• If any family member is a permanent or contractual employee of Central/ State/ Government or any Public Undertaking.
• If any family member is pensioner.
• If family have more than 5 Acre of Land.
• If there is a four wheeler in house. (Tractors are exempted)

Application Process– Both online and offline application facility is available. In order to edit the application form, the applicant can visit Anganwadi Centre. (Meet Anganwadi Sevika), Urban Local Body Office, Municipal Corporation Office, Nagar Palika Office.

Amount– Rs. 1500 every month

Documents Required– Residence Proof of Maharashtra, Aadhar Card, Birth Certificate, Income Certificate, Bank Account Details, Passport Size Photo, Ration Card, Self Declaration.

Target No– 2.5 crore women

Nodal Department– Women and Child Development Department, Maharashtra

Total Budget– ₹12000 crores (annual)

Tamil Nadu

Name of the scheme– Kalaingar Magalir Urimai Thogai

Announcement– 2023

Eligibility– The following women are eligible to get benefits:

• All women and transgenders residing in Tamil Nadu above 21 years are eligible.
• Unmarried women and widows who are heads of their households are eligible under this scheme.
• The annual family income of the woman applicant must be below Rs.2.5 lakh.
• The woman’s family should not own more than 10 acres of dry land or five acres of wetland.
• The annual household power consumption of the woman should be below 3,600 units.
• The woman’s family should not have a car or four-wheeler.

The wives of government employees (both State and Central Government), bank employees, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), income taxpayers, pensioners, professional taxpayers, and elected representatives of local bodies are not eligible for the scheme.

Application Process– The application can be registered online through the KMUT website. Women can also visit nearby ration shops and get the application form and submit to them. Ration shops will further forward applications to government.

Amount– Rs. 1200 every month

Documents Required– Aadhar Card, Ration Card, Aadhar Card of Husband, Bank Detail, Income Certificate, Self Declaration, Family Details, Tamil Nadu Domicile Certificate, Mobile Number, Death Certificate of Husband (in case of widow)

Nodal Department– Tamil Nadu Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment

Total Budget– ₹7000 crores

Andhra Pradesh

Name of the scheme– Jagananna Ammavodi Scheme

Announcement– 2020

Eligibility– The eligibility criteria for applying for JaganannaAmmaVodi are the mothers’ or the recognised guardian:

• Must be a legal resident of AP,
• Must be from a BPL (Below Poverty Line) household with a white ration card,
• The child must be studying in a government school or junior college between class I and XII with 75% attendance,

If the child discontinues the study in the middle of the academic year’s session, he/she cannot avail of the benefits of this programme.

Application Process– The application can be registered online by downloading the application form from the website or obtain it from the nearest village or ward secretariat.

Amount– Rs. 15000 per annum

Documents Required– Aadhar Card, School ID Card, Residence Certificate, Mobile Number, Ration Card, Birth Certificate and Women’s Passport Size Photo

Nodal Department– School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh

Total Budget– ₹6500 crores

Himachal Pradesh

Name of the scheme– Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana

Announcement– 2024

Eligibility– The women’s age should be between 18-59 years.

• The applicant should be a permanent resident of Himachal Pradesh.
• The applicant’s family members do not fall into the following categories:
  • Central/State Government employees/pensioners, contract/outsourced/daily wage earners/part-time, etc.
  • Category employees, serving/ex-servicemen and military widows, honorarium receiving Anganwadi workers/helpers/ Asha Workers/Mid-Day Meal Workers, Multi-Task Workers, Social Security Pension Beneficiaries, Employees of Panchayat Raj Institutions/Urban Local Bodies, Pensioners/Pensioners working in various Public Undertakings/Boards/Councils/Agencies under Central/State Government, for Goods and Services Tax Be a registered person and income tax payer etc.
  • Buddhist nuns (Chomo) living permanently in Buddhist monasteries.

Application Process– Interested applicant should visit the District Welfare Officer or Tehsil Welfare Officer and request hard copy of prescribed format.

Amount– Rs. 1500 per month

Documents Required– Valid Age Certificate, Native Certificate, Photocopy of Bank Passbook/ Post Office Account Number, Photocopy of Aadhar Card, Photocopy of Ration Card, Buddhist Nuns Certificate

Nodal Department– Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Himachal Pradesh

Total Budget– ₹23 crores

Jharkhand

Name of the scheme– Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana

Announcement– 2024

Eligibility– The applicant should be:

• A female
• A permanent resident of Jharkhand
• Of age between 21-49 years.

But following women are excluded:

• The applicant herself or her husband should be employed as a regular/permanent employee/contractual employee/honorarium employee in the Central/State Government or Central/State Public Sector Undertakings, Statutory Body, Local Body, Urban Body and Government Aided Educational Institution or Should be receiving pension/family pension after retirement.
• The family member is a current or former MP/MLA.
• Income tax paying families.
• The beneficiaries who are already getting the benefits of any other social security pension scheme run by the Women, Child Development and Social Security Department, Jharkhand, Ranchi, will not be provided the benefits of this scheme.
• EPF account holder applicant woman.

Application Process– Interested applicant should visit the Anganwadi Centre or the office of Block Development Officer, fill the application form and submit it duly signed.

Amount– Rs. 1000 per month

Documents Required– Passport Size Photograph, Aadhar Card, Ration Card, Voter ID, Pan Card, Bank Passbook and Self Declaration Letter

Nodal Department– Department of Women, Child Development and Social Security

Target Number– 4.5 million women

Total Budget– ₹5500 crores annually

Rajasthan

Name of the scheme–  Indira Gandhi National Vidhva Pension Yojana (IGNWPS)

Announcement– 2009

Eligibility–

• The applicant should have a domicile in the state of Rajasthan.
• The applicant should be from a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family.
• The application should be aged 40 years.

Application Process–  

Online Application through official portal

Amount–  

• Women who are more than 40 to less than 75 years old monthly pension of ₹ 1000/-.
• Women who are more than 75 years old monthly pension of ₹ 1500/-.

Documents Required–

• Photos of applicant.
• Husband’s death certificate.
• B.P.L. card.
• Certificate to confirm age.

Nodal Department– Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Government. of Rajasthan