- 16-Aug-2025
- Marriage and Divorce Laws
In India, custodial parents—especially single mothers—often face financial, emotional, and social challenges while raising children alone. The government, through various schemes, aims to provide support to these parents by offering financial assistance, educational benefits, and legal aid. These programs are designed to alleviate the burden on custodial parents and ensure the well-being of children. Given the growing awareness of gender equality and child welfare, numerous initiatives have been introduced to support custodial parents, particularly in difficult circumstances such as separation, divorce, or widowhood.
Purpose: This scheme aims to provide financial inclusion to low-income individuals, including custodial parents. It offers zero-balance savings accounts, which can be particularly useful for single mothers or custodial fathers who are struggling with financial instability.
Support: Beneficiaries can access financial products such as overdraft facilities, insurance, and pension schemes under PMJDY. This scheme supports the economic empowerment of custodial parents by providing them with basic banking services and financial support.
Purpose: This scheme was launched specifically for children who have lost their parents due to COVID-19. It provides support to orphaned children, including those who are in the care of custodial parents such as grandparents or other relatives.
Support: It provides financial assistance for the child’s education, health, and welfare. A corpus fund is set up to ensure the child’s future financial security, covering their education and even expenses related to the child’s upbringing.
Purpose: Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, this scheme focuses on the welfare of the girl child. The scheme addresses various issues faced by women and girls, including their education and safety.
Support: It provides financial incentives for the education and well-being of girls, with a focus on the empowerment of women. Custodial parents, especially mothers, benefit from this program as it directly impacts their daughters' future prospects, from education to safety.
Purpose: The One Stop Centre Scheme was introduced by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to provide immediate assistance to women who have been victims of violence, including custodial parents who might be going through domestic abuse or difficult separation.
Support: These centers offer a range of services, including legal aid, psychological counseling, medical assistance, and police facilitation. Custodial parents who are victims of domestic violence or are dealing with abusive ex-spouses can access critical services here.
Purpose: The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is a government initiative to ensure the welfare and protection of children. It includes provisions for custodial parents who are facing issues related to child care, child abuse, or the legal custody of their children.
Support: The scheme offers various forms of child protection, including the establishment of child care institutions, sponsorship programs for children in difficult situations, and assistance in the rehabilitation of children who are abandoned or neglected. It provides financial support for children in need, especially in single-parent households.
Purpose: MGNREGA is a government initiative aimed at providing rural employment to individuals, particularly in underserved areas. For custodial parents, especially women, this scheme is an essential form of financial support.
Support: The act guarantees 100 days of paid employment to rural families, allowing custodial parents—particularly single mothers in rural areas—to earn a livelihood while managing their caregiving responsibilities. It also supports rural infrastructure development, indirectly benefiting local communities.
Purpose: NSAP is aimed at providing social assistance to the elderly, widows, and disabled individuals, including single mothers and custodial fathers who might not have a stable income.
Support: Under this program, eligible custodial parents can receive financial aid through schemes like the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), which offers monthly support to widows, many of whom are custodial parents.
Purpose: This scheme is a small savings scheme that provides financial support for the education and marriage of a girl child. It is part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative.
Support: Custodial parents can open an account in the name of their girl child to ensure a better financial future, as the scheme offers attractive interest rates and tax benefits. This can be crucial for single mothers looking to secure their daughters' future education and other needs.
Purpose: The government also provides various state-level schemes for single mothers to help with child-rearing expenses. These schemes are often targeted at economically disadvantaged women, particularly single mothers in lower-income households.
Support: Financial assistance is provided to eligible single mothers for the well-being of their children, including their education, healthcare, and nutrition.
Purpose: NALSA provides free legal services to marginalized sections of society, including custodial parents who might be facing legal battles related to child custody, maintenance, and domestic violence.
Support: Custodial parents, especially women, can access legal counsel, representation, and assistance in court proceedings. This can be particularly useful in child custody cases where legal support is crucial to ensure that their parental rights are upheld.
In addition to the national programs, individual states also run specific schemes to assist custodial parents. Some states offer subsidies, healthcare benefits, child care allowances, and educational support tailored to the needs of single parents or women in difficult circumstances. These state schemes are typically aimed at ensuring the holistic well-being of both custodial parents and children.
Consider a single mother residing in rural India who is struggling with her child’s education and her financial security. She may benefit from:
These government programs collectively ensure that the single mother can provide for her child’s needs, both financially and socially, while also receiving support for her personal empowerment.
The Indian government offers a wide range of schemes to support custodial parents, especially women, who often bear the majority of child-rearing responsibilities. These schemes provide financial assistance, legal support, and social services to ensure that children grow up in a safe and supportive environment. By empowering custodial parents with the resources and tools they need, the government plays a crucial role in enhancing the welfare of both parents and children in India.
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