Laadli Yojana: Many schemes are run in our country to empower daughters and reduce gender inequality. The Laadli Yojana started by the Delhi government was one such commendable initiative, which was implemented on 1 January 2008. The aim of this scheme was to connect daughters with education, make them self-reliant and ensure that a daughter is never considered a burden after being born. But the figures that are coming out now have become a matter of concern.
According to the information received under RTI, there has been a huge decline of about 60 percent in the number of beneficiaries of Laadli Yojana in the last 15 years. This news not only shocks, but also forces us to think why is this happening?
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Ladli Yojana Start and Benefit Process
Under the Ladli scheme, the Delhi government deposits an amount of ₹35,000 to ₹36,000 in installments in a special bank account in the name of eligible girls. This amount remains locked till the girl turns 18 years old. This amount can be withdrawn only when she becomes an adult, so that she can use it in her higher education or marriage. The goal of the scheme was to encourage girls for education and prevent premature marriage.
What do government reports and figures say
According to government data, 1,26,965 girls benefited from the scheme in 2008-09, while in 2024-25 this number came down to just 53,001. That is, a decline of about 58 percent has been recorded in 15 years. These figures represent the second lowest number in the last five years, indicating that the reach and impact of the scheme has been severely reduced.
According to the Delhi Women and Child Development Department, a total of 13,52,564 girls registered for the scheme by 2025, but about 1.86 lakh beneficiaries never availed the benefits of the scheme, and 1.66 lakh girls either did not renew their registration or dropped out of school. This makes it clear that school dropouts and lack of awareness are the major reasons behind being deprived of the scheme.
What are the reasons behind the decline
According to reports, the number of girls dropping out of school is high, which could be the main reason for this decline. According to an official, many girls do not complete the renewal process of the scheme on time, due to which their names are removed. Also, in many cases the family does not have complete information about the scheme, due to which girls are deprived of the scheme despite being eligible.[Related-Posts]
Another important reason is lack of awareness. Many parents in rural and urban poor areas are not even aware of this scheme. This scheme should be promoted through schools, Anganwadis and administrative officials, so that no eligible girl is deprived of it.
What should happen now
Efforts like Ladli Yojana can be successful only when there is awareness and transparency at the grassroots level. School administration, government employees and social organizations will have to work together to ensure that every eligible girl is linked to the scheme. The process of registration and renewal should be simplified and digitalized so that no family is left out of the scheme due to technical problems.
Disclaimer: This article is written for informational purposes only. The data and information given in it are based on various government sources and news reports. Readers are advised to contact the official website or office of the concerned department for information or application related to any government scheme.
