The theme for International Girl Child Day 2023 is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being.” This theme highlights the importance of investing in girls’ education, health, and well-being in order to empower them to reach their full potential and become leaders of the future.
International Girl Child Day was first celebrated in 2012, and it is now celebrated annually on October 11th to raise awareness of the challenges faced by girls around the world and to promote their rights.
Significance
International Girl Child Day is an important day to celebrate and empower girls around the world. Girls face many challenges, including gender-based discrimination, violence, and poverty. This day is a reminder that we need to invest in girls and their futures in order to create a more just and equitable world for all.
How to Invest in Girls’ Futures
There are many ways to invest in girls’ futures. Here are a few ideas:
- Support girls’ education. Education is one of the best investments we can make in girls’ futures. It empowers them to reach their full potential and earn a living wage.
- Invest in girls’ health. Girls need access to quality healthcare, including reproductive health services. This helps them to stay healthy and productive, and to make choices about their own lives.
One of the best ways to invest in your girl child’s future is to open a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) account. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a government-sponsored savings scheme designed to help parents save for their daughters’ higher education and marriage.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts can be opened for girls up to the age of 10 years. Parents or guardians can deposit a minimum of Rs. 250 and a maximum of Rs. 1,50,000 per year in the account. The account earns a competitive interest rate, which is currently set at 7.6%.
Once the girl child turns 18 years old, she can withdraw up to 50% of the balance in the account for her higher education expenses. The remaining balance can be withdrawn after she turns 21 years old or gets married, whichever is earlier.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a great way to save for your daughter’s future and to ensure that she has the financial resources she needs to achieve her dreams.
Here are some of the benefits of opening an Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account for your girl child:
- High interest rate: SSY accounts earn a high interest rate, which is currently set at 7.6%. This helps to grow your savings quickly.
- Tax benefits: Deposits made in Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts are eligible for a tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- Partial withdrawal: You can withdraw up to 50% of the balance in the account for your daughter’s higher education expenses after she turns 18 years old.
- Premature closure: SSY accounts can be prematurely closed in certain cases, such as the death of the account holder or the girl child’s marriage before she turns 18 years old.
If you are a parent or guardian of a girl child, I urge you to open an SSY account for her today. It is one of the best ways to invest in her future and to ensure that she has the financial resources she needs to achieve her dreams.
- Protect girls from violence. Girls are disproportionately affected by violence, both at home and in public. We need to work to create a world where girls are safe and respected.
- Empower girls to be leaders. Girls need to be encouraged and supported to take on leadership roles in their communities and in the world. We need to break down gender stereotypes and create opportunities for girls to lead.
How to Celebrate International Girl Child Day
There are many ways to celebrate International Girl Child Day. Here are a few ideas:
- Educate yourself and others about the challenges faced by girls around the world.
- Donate to organizations that support girls’ education, health, and well-being.
- Volunteer your time to mentor or tutor a girl.
- Speak out against gender-based discrimination and violence.
- Support girls-owned businesses and products.
- Celebrate the girls in your life!
International Girl Child Day is an important day to celebrate and empower girls around the world. By investing in girls’ futures, we can create a more just and equitable world for all.