Top 5 Social Welfare Schemes in Gujarat: The Government of Gujarat has launched several progressive schemes in 2024-25 aiming to support students, women, farmers, and the economically weaker sections. Whether you are looking for scholarship aid for your daughter, health insurance for your family, or capital to start a small business, there is likely a state scheme designed to help you.
In this guide, we break down the top 5 most important government schemes in Gujarat that every resident should know about this year.
1. Namo Lakshmi Yojana (For Adolescent Girls)
Status: Trending / New
Launched recently to boost female literacy and reduce dropout rates, the Namo Lakshmi Yojana is one of the most generous scholarship programmes for teenage girls in Gujarat.
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Objective: To support girls studying in secondary and higher secondary grades (Class 9 to 12).
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Financial Benefit: A total of ₹50,000 over 4 years.
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Class 9 & 10: ₹10,000 per year.
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Class 11 & 12: ₹15,000 per year.
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Eligibility:
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Girl students studying in government, aided, or private schools in Gujarat.
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Family annual income must be less than ₹6 Lakhs.
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How to Apply: The application is usually processed through the school via the SwiftChat app or the dedicated education portal. Contact your school principal for registration.
2. Vahli Dikri Yojana (For Girl Child)
Status: Evergreen / Popular
Often called the “Dear Daughter” scheme, this is a flagship initiative to improve the sex ratio and ensure girls receive education up to adulthood.
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Objective: To provide financial security to families upon the birth of a girl child.
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Financial Benefit: Total ₹1,10,000 given in three stages:
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₹4,000: When the girl enters Class 1.
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₹6,000: When she enters Class 9.
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₹100,000: When she turns 18 years old (provided she is unmarried/pursuing higher education).
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Eligibility:
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Applicable for the first two daughters of the family.
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Family annual income must be ₹2 Lakhs or less.
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The girl must be born on or after 02/08/2019.
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How to Apply: Visit your nearest Anganwadi centre, Gram Panchayat, or Women & Child Development office to collect the form.
3. PM JAY-MA Yojana (Ayushman Gujarat)
Status: Essential Health Cover
Gujarat integrated its state “MA” (Mukhyamantri Amrutam) card with the central “PMJAY” scheme to create a powerful health shield for the poor and middle class.
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Objective: Cashless medical treatment for critical illnesses and surgeries.
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Financial Benefit:
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Health insurance covers up to ₹10 Lakhs per family per year (increased from ₹5 Lakhs recently by the State Govt).
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Free treatment in affiliated government and private hospitals.
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Eligibility:
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Families listed in the SECC data (BPL).
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Households with an annual income below ₹4 Lakhs (for MA Vatsalya).
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Senior citizens (family income up to ₹6 Lakhs).
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ASHA workers, reporters, and Class-3/4 fixed-pay employees.
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How to Apply: Visit a Mamlatdar office, Civic Centre, or designated hospital with your Income Certificate and Ration Card to get your PMJAY-MA card printed.
4. Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana
Status: For Science Students
Science education is often expensive. To ensure meritorious students don’t shy away from the science stream due to costs, the government launched this specific scheme.
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Objective: To encourage students to take up the science stream in Class 11 and 12.
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Financial Benefit: Total ₹25,000.
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Class 11: ₹10,000 per year (₹1,000 monthly stipend).
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Class 12: ₹15,000 per year.
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Eligibility:
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Students who scored more than 50% marks in Class 10 Board Exams.
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Admitted to the science stream in a recognised school.
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Family annual income below ₹6 Lakhs.
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How to Apply: Similar to Namo Lakshmi, this is processed through the school system.
5. Manav Garima Yojana
Status: For Self-Employment
Instead of giving cash that might be spent elsewhere, this scheme gives “Tools of the Trade” to help people start their own small businesses.
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Objective: To help people from Scheduled Castes (SC) and economically weaker sections become self-reliant.
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Financial Benefit: No cash is given. Instead, a toolkit worth ₹4,000 is provided free of cost.
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28 Trades Covered: Masonry, Carpentry, Mobile Repair, Beauty Parlour, Tailoring, Plumbing, Vehicle Repair, etc.
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Eligibility:
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Age: 18 to 60 years.
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Income Limit: Rural families (< ₹47,000/yr) and urban families (< ₹68,000/yr). Note: Newer updates have relaxed limits for certain SC categories up to ₹6 Lakhs; check the latest notification on the portal.
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How to Apply: Apply online via the e-Samaj Kalyan Portal (esamajkalyan.gujarat.gov.in).
Special things to keep in mind while applying (Pro Tips)
- Aadhaar Seeding: Make sure that the beneficiary’s bank account is linked to the Aadhaar card. The government now sends money only through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), if there is no link then there may be a problem in depositing the money.
- Income Proof: Income proof should always be latest (last 6 months or 1 year). It must be certified by Mamlatdar or Taluka Development Officer (TDO).
- Mobile Number: Provide the same mobile number in the application form that is active, so that you can receive SMS regarding the approval of the scheme or the deposit of the installment.
Helpful Contacts
If anyone faces any difficulty in applying, they can contact the following places:
- Jan Seva Kendra: Located in every Taluka Mamlatdar office.
- E-Gram Vishwagram: You can fill the online form by going to the VCE in your village Panchayat Bhavan.
- Helpline Number: The helpline number can be obtained from the official website of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department of the Government of Gujarat.
Quick Summary Table
| Scheme Name | Beneficiary | Max Benefit |
| Namo Lakshmi | Adolescent Girls (9-12th) | ₹50,000 |
| Vahli Dikri | Girl Child (Birth to 18) | ₹1.10 Lakh |
| PMJAY-MA | Families (Health) | ₹10 Lakh Cover |
| Namo Saraswati | Science Students | ₹25,000 |
| Manav Garima | Small Business Owners | Free Toolkits |
Conclusion
Gujarat’s welfare ecosystem is robust, moving towards “Direct Benefit Transfer” (DBT) to ensure money reaches your bank account directly without middlemen.
Pro Tip: For most of these schemes, your Aadhaar Card must be linked to your mobile number and bank account. If you haven’t done this yet, visit your bank today to ensure you don’t miss out on these payments.
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