- With financial assistance from the Chhattisgarh government, women are managing household expenses while also saving for their daughters’ education and future.
- Funds are being deposited into ‘Sukanya Samriddhi’ (Girl Child Prosperity) accounts.
The ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana’ has been implemented in Chhattisgarh with the objective of fostering the economic self-reliance of women, continuously improving their health and nutritional status, and strengthening their decision-making role within the family. The scheme aims to eliminate discrimination and inequality against women, address a lack of awareness, improve health and nutrition, and promote economic self-reliance and women’s empowerment. Under this initiative, eligible married women receive financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month. The ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana’ was officially launched by the Chhattisgarh government on March 1, 2024, and was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 10, 2024. The Prime Minister has stated that “Modi’s Guarantee” signifies a guarantee that the promise itself will be fulfilled.
The scheme extends benefits to all eligible married women in the state; additionally, widows, divorcees, and abandoned women are also eligible to avail of its benefits. The financial assistance provided through the ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana’ is enabling women to meet household needs while simultaneously securing their daughters’ futures. Many are depositing a portion of the funds received into ‘Sukanya Samriddhi’ accounts, ensuring financial support for their daughters’ higher education and other future requirements. This initiative is strengthening the Prime Minister’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) mission at the grassroots level.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated that respecting the power of motherhood (Matru-shakti) and ensuring the economic empowerment of women is not merely a scheme or program for his government, but a key priority for good governance. We believe that when a woman in a family becomes economically empowered, it has a positive impact on the entire family. Her role becomes stronger in decisions ranging from children’s education and nutrition to the family’s health and future. Therefore, through the ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana’, the government is providing economic strength to mothers and sisters, giving them the self-confidence to make their own decisions.
For Pramila Potami, from Bodri village in Dantewada district, saving for her daughter’s education was not easy. The regular monthly assistance provided under the ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana’ has paved the way for her to save. Pramila says, “Our income is not enough to set aside any savings. The funds received through the ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana’ are a great help. I deposit a portion of this amount into a ‘Sukanya Samriddhi’ account, which will be useful for my daughter’s future education.” Dantewada, in South Bastar, has long been affected by Naxalite violence. In such a region, this effort to save for a daughter’s education offers new hope for evolving aspirations and a better future. Like Pramila, several other women are also using a portion of this monthly assistance to save for their daughters.
This scheme is helping women become economically self-reliant, enabling them to develop their own sources of income and contribute financially to their families. It is also playing a key role in empowering women, helping them become aware of their rights and secure them. Meena Nishad, from Raveli village in Raipur district, has also opened a ‘Sukanya Samriddhi’ account for her daughter, Mahima. She says, “I receive one thousand rupees every month under the ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana.’ I deposit this amount into my daughter’s ‘Sukanya Samriddhi’ account. I hope that, in the future, these savings will help with her education and other future needs.” Anju Kushwaha, from Parri village in the Pratappur block of Surajpur district, is also saving in a similar way. She deposits a portion of the monthly assistance into her daughter’s ‘Sukanya’ account and uses the remainder for household expenses. According to her, this regular financial support has given her the confidence that she can set aside some savings for the future.
Meanwhile, Deepali Markam from Baghmara village in the Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district is using these funds to cover her children’s school-related expenses and to save for her daughter’s future. She notes that every parent wishes for their children to receive a good education and succeed in life; however, given limited household resources, saving for the future is often challenging. This monthly assistance is helping her contribute to her children’s education and build savings for her daughter.
- Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has stated, “The women of Chhattisgarh are our pride.”
Through the ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana,’ the government—committed to good governance—is strengthening the dignity, self-respect, and self-reliance of the state’s women by providing financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month, totaling ₹12,000 annually. On October 8, 2026, as part of the 32nd installment of the scheme, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai facilitated the transfer of over ₹632.40 crore directly into the bank accounts of more than 6.7 million (67 lakh) women via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
To date, a total exceeding ₹20,708 crore has been provided to women through the ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana.’ Under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, there are 513,534 beneficiaries in Raipur district, 411,310 beneficiaries in Bilaspur district, 389,507 beneficiaries in Durg, and [beneficiaries in] Balodabazar…The government, committed to good governance, is empowering mothers and sisters financially by transferring funds directly into the accounts of 319,815 beneficiaries in Arang-Bhatapara and 312,162 beneficiaries in Mahasamund district via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
The ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’—launched in 2015 under the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) campaign—provides an opportunity to save for the future of girl children. Through this scheme, parents can accumulate funds to meet their daughters’ future needs, such as education and marriage. The experiences of these women demonstrate that regular financial support is enabling them to begin planned savings for their daughters’ education and future.