Bank of Baroda, a public sector bank, has collaborated with the Tamil Nadu government to introduce a co-branded RuPay Platinum Debit Card in the state. Bank of Baroda has created a debit card specifically for girls who are part of the ‘Pudhumai Penn’ scheme. The card is customized to offer solutions that meet the needs of these female students. It provides personal accident insurance coverage of up to Rs 2 lakh per year.
At an event, the co-branded RuPay Platinum Debit Card for the beneficiaries of the Tamil Nadu government’s ‘Pudhumai Penn’ scheme was launched by T Udhayachandran, the principal secretary of the special implementation department of the Tamil Nadu government, along with A Saravanakumar, the general manager and zonal head of Bank of Baroda. Senior officials from the bank also graced the occasion.
Benefits of the co-branded debit card
â–ª As per Bank of Baroda’s statement, the co-branded debit card provides personal accident insurance coverage of up to Rs 2 lakh per year. Additionally, the joining and annual fees for the first year of card usage have been waived.
About the Pudhumai Penn scheme
â–ª To support financially challenged families who are unable to afford higher education for their daughters, the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Marriage Assistance scheme has been revamped into the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance scheme, which is now known as the “Pudhumai Penn scheme”.
The objective of the Scheme
â–ª This innovative scheme is expected to be a game-changer for female education and will benefit numerous families in the future.
â–ª This initiative by the Tamil Nadu government is commendable and will go a long way in empowering women.
â–ª Under this program, girls who have attended state government schools from Class V through Class XII will receive a monthly stipend of Rs1,000 until they complete their diploma or graduation, encouraging more women to pursue higher education.
â–ª The main aim of launching the Pudhumai Penn Scheme is to promote quality education for Girls students.
â–ª This scheme will encourage the girl students to pursue their higher education as most of the girl students leave their studies after the 12th or 10th.
â–ª In addition to encouraging female students to pursue higher education, the government is also focusing on improving the infrastructure of schools to ensure that high-quality education is provided. To this end, the government has allocated a budget of 171 crore rupees for upgrading 25 Municipal Corporation-run schools into Schools of Excellence.
â–ª Classrooms in these Schools of Excellence would be modernized and art, literature, music, dance, and sports among others would be promoted among students.
▪ In the next four years, one classroom would be set up in every school in Tamil Nadu and converted into a ‘Smart Classroom for ₹150 crores.
Second Phase of Pudhumai Penn Scheme
â–ª A total of 1099 female students who are pursuing higher education in government institutes in the Coimbatore district have been included in the Pudhumai Penn scheme, entitling them to the financial assistance of Rs 1000.
â–ª The main aim of this scheme is to offer financial aid to female students hailing from economically weaker backgrounds, thereby motivating them to pursue higher education.
â–ª On 8th February 2023, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin, inaugurated the second phase of the scheme at an event held in the Tiruvallur district.
â–ª Later, at another event organized at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the district collector, Kranti Kumar Pati, disbursed the assistance to 88 eligible students..
Pudhumai Penn Scheme Benefits
â–ª It aims to bridge the gender gap in literacy rates in the state by providing a monthly stipend of Rs 1000 to girls who have attended government schools from Classes 6 through 12 until they complete their undergraduate degree, ITI course, or diploma.
â–ª This initiative is expected to accelerate the pace of educational development and increase the number of educated women in society.
â–ª Moreover, it will help reduce the incidence of child marriages that are prevalent in several regions of the state.
â–ª Through this scheme, the state government aims to empower and promote the independence of women.
â–ª The Puthumai Penn Scheme will benefit around six lakh eligible girls in the state pursuing higher education courses, and the government has allocated 698 crores in the budget for the year 2022-2023 to ensure its smooth implementation.
â–ª The girls who are beneficiaries of the Pudhumai Penn scheme can now avail the co-branded RuPay Platinum debit card offered by Bank of Baroda, which provides personal accident insurance coverage of up to Rs 2 lakh per annum.
Scheme Eligibility Criteria
â–ª Following are the eligibility criteria that students must follow to avail the benefits of this Scheme
- The student must be a resident of Tamil Nadu.
- Only girl students can avail the benefits of the scheme.
- The student must have studied in a government school.
- The student must be studying from class 6 to class 12.
Application Process for Pudhumai Penn Scheme
- To apply for the scheme, the applicant has to visit their official website.
- Now from the homepage, select the institute/ college option.
- A new login form will be displayed on the screen.
- Enter the login details if you are already registered on the portal or click on the register now option.
- After successful registration, log in with the details and get logged in successfully.
- Enter the details in the application form and click on the submit option
Required Documents
â–ª The documents required to enroll for the scheme are listed below
- Aadhaar card or voter ID
- Residence Certificate
- 10th and 12th Mark sheet
- Transfer certificate
- Bank passbook
- Family Income Certificate
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