The Vahli Dikri Yojana (Dear Daughter Scheme) is a flagship initiative by the Gujarat Government aimed at uplifting the status of girl children, promoting their education, and reducing the financial burden on families. Launched on August 2, 2019, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Gujarat, this scheme provides financial assistance to families for the first two daughters, ensuring their socio-economic empowerment. As of March 2025, the scheme continues to make strides in improving the girl child sex ratio and supporting over 2.78 lakh beneficiaries. Here’s everything you need to know about the Vahli Dikri Yojana.
What is Vahli Dikri Yojana?
The Vahli Dikri Yojana is a welfare scheme designed to:
- Promote the education and empowerment of girls in Gujarat.
- Reduce gender discrimination and female foeticide.
- Improve the child sex ratio (currently 883 girls per 1,000 boys in Gujarat).
- Prevent child marriage by supporting girls until age 18.
- Provide financial aid to families with limited resources.
The scheme offers a total of ₹1,10,000 in financial assistance, disbursed in three installments at key milestones in a girl’s life. It targets families with an annual income of less than ₹2 lakh, ensuring aid reaches those who need it most.
Key Features and Benefits
Financial Assistance Structure
The Gujarat Government provides the following amounts under the scheme:
- ₹4,000: When the girl enrolls in Class 1.
- ₹6,000: When the girl enrolls in Class 9.
- ₹1,00,000: When the girl turns 18, to be used for higher education or marriage.
- Total Amount: ₹1,10,000 per eligible girl.
- Flexibility: While intended for education and welfare, there are no strict restrictions on how families utilize the funds once disbursed.
Scale of Implementation
- As of March 6, 2025, posts on X (e.g., @VtvGujarati) report that over 2.78 lakh girls are set to benefit, with more than ₹3,000 crore approved for the scheme’s implementation.
- The Gujarat Budget 2019-20 allocated ₹133 crore initially, with funding scaled up significantly since then.
Objectives
- Encourage families to celebrate the birth of girls.
- Reduce school dropout rates among girls.
- Empower girls to become independent through education and financial stability.
Eligibility Criteria
To avail of the benefits under Vahli Dikri Yojana, families must meet the following conditions (sourced from myscheme.gov.in and wcd.gujarat.gov.in):
- Residency: The applicant must be a permanent resident of Gujarat.
- Income Limit: Annual family income must not exceed ₹2,00,000.
- Girl Child Limit: Applicable only to the first two daughters in a family.
- Birth Date: Girls born on or after August 2, 2019, are eligible.
- Bank Account: The applicant (parent/guardian) must have an active bank account linked for direct benefit transfer.
Note: Families with more than two daughters or incomes above ₹2 lakh are not eligible.
How to Apply for Vahli Dikri Yojana
The application process remains offline as of March 2025, with no official online portal specified on wcd.gujarat.gov.in or digitalgujarat.gov.in. Here’s the step-by-step process based on official guidelines:
Step 1: Obtain the Application Form
- Visit one of the following locations:
- Anganwadi Centre
- Gram Panchayat Office
- Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Office
- District Women and Child Development Officer’s Office
- Alternatively, download the form from junagadh.nic.in/forms (under “Vhali Dikri Yojna Form,” last updated November 27, 2024).
Step 2: Fill Out the Form
- Provide accurate details such as:
- Applicant’s name and address.
- Girl child’s birth details.
- Family income information.
- Bank account details.
Step 3: Attach Required Documents
The following documents are mandatory (per myscheme.gov.in and junagadh.nic.in):
- Birth Certificate of the girl child.
- Domicile Certificate of the parent/guardian.
- Income Certificate (issued by a competent authority).
- Aadhaar Card of the applicant.
- Bank Account Passbook (showing account number and IFSC code).
- Passport-sized Photo of the girl child.
- Self-Declaration Affidavit (available with the form).
Step 4: Submit the Application
- Submit the completed form and documents to the same office where it was collected (e.g., Anganwadi Centre or CDPO Office).
- The application will be scrutinized by officials from the Women and Child Development Department.
Step 5: Verification and Approval
- After verification, eligible applicants receive an SMS notification or acknowledgment slip.
- Funds are transferred directly to the linked bank account at the specified stages (Class 1, Class 9, and age 18).
Latest Updates
- Beneficiary Reach: As per X posts from @VtvGujarati, the scheme has expanded to benefit over 2.78 lakh girls, with ₹3,000 crore+ sanctioned, reflecting its growing impact.
- No Policy Changes: The financial structure (₹1,10,000 in three installments) and eligibility criteria remain unchanged since 2019, per myscheme.gov.in.
- Awareness Campaigns: The Gujarat Government continues to promote the scheme through local governance bodies and Anganwadi workers to ensure maximum enrollment.
Contact Information
For queries or assistance:
- Helpline Number: 079-2325-7942 (Women and Child Development Department, Gujarat).
- Email: pa2sec-wncw@gujarat.gov.in
- Address: Department of Women and Child Development, Block No. 9, 8th Floor, New Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Why Vahli Dikri Yojana Matters
The Vahli Dikri Yojana is a transformative step toward gender equality in Gujarat. By providing financial support at critical stages of a girl’s life, it alleviates economic pressures on families, encourages education, and delays marriage until adulthood. With over 2.78 lakh girls already enrolled, the scheme is a testament to Gujarat’s commitment to its daughters.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, visit wcd.gujarat.gov.in or contact your local Anganwadi Centre. Empower your daughter today—apply for Vahli Dikri Yojana and secure her future!
