Why Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a better investment plan for your daughter

For every parent, having a girl child is always a blessing. Just like any parent, you also dream of showering your daughter with all the happiness, but what most tend to ignore is ensuring the financial security of their future.

The education fees, tuition fees, and other expenses related to your child's overall grooming are skyrocketing. As a parent, you must have saved enough funds, but that would fall short for funding your child's higher education, marriage, or business purposes. A traditional Savings Account fails to beat the rising inflation rate. You should start investing in saving schemes like the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), a Government-backed initiative dedicated to those with a girl child.

The scheme is a part of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign that was started in 2015 to spread awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for the girls in India. As a part of the SSY scheme, parents or guardians can open a savings plan in their girl child's name at any authorised bank or post office.

Features of SSY

• The parents of a girl child are eligible to apply for SSY scheme. At the time of application, the girl child should be under the age of 10.
• The lock-in period of SSY is 21 years from the date of account opening.
• The interest rate is 8.5% per annum.
• As per the SSY, the number of accounts parents can open is restricted to two.
• The maximum investment limit is Rs 1.5 lakh and the minimum amount is Rs 250. There is no restriction on the number of deposits made in a month or a year.
• As a parent, you're allowed to make a pre-mature withdrawal only once, that too when your daughter attains 18 years of age.
• Unlike children mutual funds where expense ratio is charged as a maintenance cost, SSY Account does not charge any costs.

Benefits of SSY

1. Guaranteed returns: Post the SSY scheme's maturity, the girl child receives the account balance along with the interest.
2. Interest accrued post maturity: Another unique benefit of the scheme is that interest accrues even after the maturity and until the time the account is closed by the account holder.
3. Lock-in period: The actual term period of the scheme is 21 years. Banks permit partial withdrawal for higher education, only when the girl child becomes 18 years old. Besides, banks allow only 50% of the pre-mature withdrawal.
4. Tax-efficient: Under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, individuals can claim tax deductions up to Rs 1.5 lakh for the contribution made towards the SSY scheme.

If you have a girl child, this is the best low-risk investment option to secure your daughter's future. Moreover, it is affordable as compared to Mutual Fund schemes. So, go ahead and start investing in SSY to accumulate an adequate corpus for your daughter's brighter future.

DISCLAIMER

The contents of this document are meant merely for information purposes. The information contained herein is subject to update, completion, revision, verification and amendment and the same may change materially. The information provided herein is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would (by reason of that person‘s nationality, residence or otherwise) be contrary to law or regulation or would subject lClCl Bank or its affiliates to any licensing or registration requirements. This document is not an offer, invitation or solicitation of any kind to buy or sell any security and is not intended to create any rights or obligations. Nothing in this document is intended to constitute legal, tax, securities or investment advice, or opinion regarding the appropriateness of any investment, or a solicitation for any product or service. Please obtain professional legal, tax and other investment advice before making any investment. Any investment decisions that may be made by you shall be at your sole discretion, independent analysis and at your own evaluation of the risks involved. The use of any information set out in this document is entirely at the recipient’s own risk. The information set out in this document has been prepared by ICICI Bank based upon projections which have been determined in good faith by lClCl Bank and from sources deemed reliable. There can be no assurance that such projections will prove to be accurate. lClCl Bank does not accept any responsibility for any errors whether caused by negligence or otherwise or for any loss or damage incurred by anyone in reliance on anything set out in this document. In preparing this document we have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all information available from public sources or which was provided to us or which was otherwise reviewed by us. Past performance cannot be a guide to future performance. ‘lClCl’ and the ‘I-man’ logo are the trademarks and property of lCICl Bank. Misuse of any intellectual property, or any other content displayed herein is strictly prohibited.