The Government of Gujarat continues to take progressive steps toward the welfare and empowerment of girls in the state. One such impactful initiative is the Wahali Dikri Yojana, which was launched in August 2019. The primary goal of this scheme is to encourage the education of girls, reduce financial pressure on families, prevent female foeticide, and improve gender equality across Gujarat.
As the scheme enters its next phase in 2025–26, the government is set to expand financial support under the program — offering assistance ranging from ₹4,000 to ₹1 lakh to eligible beneficiaries. The support will help families financially from the birth of the girl until she reaches adulthood and even contribute to her marriage expenses.
Purpose Behind the Scheme
The Wahali Dikri Yojana is a social support initiative designed to improve the overall status of daughters in society. Historically, financial limitations and social pressures have prevented many girls in India from receiving proper education and opportunities. By offering financial assistance at key milestones in a girl’s life, the government aims to:
- Increase female school enrollment
- Reduce dropout rates
- Provide support for higher education
- Encourage families to celebrate and value daughters
- Reduce child marriage and promote empowerment
This long-term support model ensures that financial help is received gradually as the girl progresses through her education and reaches adulthood.
Registrations and Reach of the Scheme
The Wahali Dikri Yojana has seen strong public response since its launch. In the last five years, the scheme has registered more than 2.37 lakh girls across the state — highlighting its acceptance and successful implementation.
However, families will begin receiving monetary benefits only when the child reaches specific eligibility stages. Since the scheme was launched in 2019, the first set of beneficiaries will begin receiving the funds starting from the academic year 2025–26, when these children begin Grade 1.
Financial Benefits Under the Wahali Dikri Yojana
The scheme offers structured financial support at three key educational and age milestones. The benefit pattern is as follows:
| Stage of Support | Condition | Financial Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| First Stage | Girl enters Class 1 | ₹4,000 |
| Second Stage | Girl enters Class 9 | ₹6,000 |
| Final Stage | Girl reaches 18 years of age | ₹1,00,000 |
This total assistance helps secure the child’s education and supports her financial independence as she transitions into adulthood.
Additional Insurance Support for Families
Along with the direct benefits, the scheme also offers insurance protection. If the family’s earning member passes away during the benefit years, the government provides an additional insurance amount of ₹10,000 to the daughter. This safeguard ensures that the financial support continues even during difficult circumstances.
Who Is Eligible for Wahali Dikri Yojana?
Eligibility plays an important role to ensure the benefits reach the intended segment of society. To qualify for the scheme, the following conditions must be met:
- The family must be a resident of Gujarat.
- The annual income requirement may apply, prioritizing economically weaker families.
- The girl must be born on or after August 2, 2019 (the implementation year).
- Families with up to three children are eligible.
- One, two, or all three girl children can receive benefits if eligibility is met.
This approach ensures the scheme supports families while also discouraging gender discrimination or selective childbirth.
Implementation and Fund Management
To manage the funds securely and efficiently, the Government of Gujarat signed an agreement with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Under this partnership:
- LIC acts as the fund management agency.
- The government deposits the financial allocations with LIC.
- LIC ensures the secure distribution of funds to eligible beneficiaries at each stage.
So far, the Gujarat Government has transferred ₹514.09 crore to LIC to facilitate the scheme and ensure future payouts are smooth and guaranteed.
Why the Scheme Matters: Social and Economic Impact
The Wahali Dikri Yojana is not merely a financial assistance program — it is a long-term investment in socio-economic transformation.
1. Encouraging Education
By providing support linked to education stages, the scheme incentivizes parents to keep their daughters in school instead of pushing them into early marriage or labor.
2. Promoting Gender Equality
Financial support for daughters helps shift cultural perceptions. Instead of seeing daughters as financial burdens, families begin recognizing them as assets with equal rights and potential.
3. Reducing Dropout and Child Marriage Rates
With guaranteed support, many families will reconsider stopping their daughter’s education due to economic pressure.
4. Empowering Girls for the Future
The final ₹1 lakh benefit at age 18 can support college education, vocational training, or marriage costs — making the recipient independent and capable of making life choices.
Future Vision of the Scheme
As the first batch of beneficiaries enters school in 2025–26, the Wahali Dikri Yojana will finally begin demonstrating measurable real-world impact. The Gujarat Government plans to monitor progress and may implement improvements based on community response and social indicators.
The initiative aligns with larger national goals such as:
- “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”
- Increasing female literacy
- Empowering women economically
- Reducing gender-based discrimination
Documents Required for Enrollment
To apply for the scheme, families generally need the following:
- Birth certificate of the girl
- Aadhaar card of parents and child
- Domicile certificate
- Income proof
- Bank account details of beneficiary
- Passport-size photographs
Applications can be submitted through government service centers or designated online portals when registration is announced.
