Bengal's daughter
Kanyashree Prakalpa - a big step in the right direction
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme for the promotion of girl’s education and prevention of forced child marriages. It is a unique child sensitive social protection scheme launched in October 2013 with technical assistance from UNICEF.
The scheme includes an annual scholarship of Rs.500 (£5) for girls between the ages of 13-18 years to continue with their studies from upper primary up to higher secondary levels, and provided they are not married off before the legal age of 18 years. A one-time grant of Rs.25,000 (GBP £250) is also provided to the girl, once she reaches the age of 18, to pursue higher studies.
Between October 2013 and March 2015, 2.22 million girl students of the state have enrolled in the scheme with a budget of GBP £100 million. The scheme's enrollment pattern is in line with its equity focus - girls from Scheduled Castes are 23.55% of the total beneficiaries while religious minorities are 23.45%, other backward classes are 8.69%, the Scheduled Tribes are 5.71% and from general castes are 37.51%.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa is run by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare as nodal agency with convergent support of over 13 departments of Govt. of West Bengal besides other partners including the state's leading banks. The project is becoming popular because of its 'simplicity of design, easy accessibility, targeted- communication strategy, convergent implementation and focus on raising the financial, social and self worth of the girls'.
West Bengal Govt. has been given international recognition for this scheme by DFID (Department for International Development, UK) and UNICEF in 2014. UNICEF has supported the state Govt. in the preparation of the scheme Guidelines, its implementation and monitoring framework, its communication strategy, the scheme MIS and has supported an all-district baseline survey on key indicators. It is also technically facilitating regular assessments of the scheme to strengthen its governance, implementation and coverage.
See more at: unicef.in
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa secured the top prize at the english.un-psf2017.nl/ United Nations Public Service Forum and Awards Ceremony (2017) on UN Public Service Day, May 23, 2017.
The United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. The purpose of the UNPSA is to promote and reward innovation and excellence in public services for sustainable development in support of the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and the principle to leave no one behind. Through an annual competition, the UN Public Service Awards promote the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. They encourage exemplary public service and recognize that democracy and successful governance are built on a competent civil service.
Bengal's daughter
Kanyashree Prakalpa - a big step in the right direction
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme for the promotion of girl’s education and prevention of forced child marriages. It is a unique child sensitive social protection scheme launched in October 2013 with technical assistance from UNICEF.
The scheme includes an annual scholarship of Rs.500 (£5) for girls between the ages of 13-18 years to continue with their studies from upper primary up to higher secondary levels, and provided they are not married off before the legal age of 18 years. A one-time grant of Rs.25,000 (GBP £250) is also provided to the girl, once she reaches the age of 18, to pursue higher studies.
Between October 2013 and March 2015, 2.22 million girl students of the state have enrolled in the scheme with a budget of GBP £100 million. The scheme's enrollment pattern is in line with its equity focus - girls from Scheduled Castes are 23.55% of the total beneficiaries while religious minorities are 23.45%, other backward classes are 8.69%, the Scheduled Tribes are 5.71% and from general castes are 37.51%.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa is run by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare as nodal agency with convergent support of over 13 departments of Govt. of West Bengal besides other partners including the state's leading banks. The project is becoming popular because of its 'simplicity of design, easy accessibility, targeted- communication strategy, convergent implementation and focus on raising the financial, social and self worth of the girls'.
West Bengal Govt. has been given international recognition for this scheme by DFID (Department for International Development, UK) and UNICEF in 2014. UNICEF has supported the state Govt. in the preparation of the scheme Guidelines, its implementation and monitoring framework, its communication strategy, the scheme MIS and has supported an all-district baseline survey on key indicators. It is also technically facilitating regular assessments of the scheme to strengthen its governance, implementation and coverage.
See more at: unicef.in
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa secured the top prize at the english.un-psf2017.nl/ United Nations Public Service Forum and Awards Ceremony (2017) on UN Public Service Day, May 23, 2017.
The United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. The purpose of the UNPSA is to promote and reward innovation and excellence in public services for sustainable development in support of the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and the principle to leave no one behind. Through an annual competition, the UN Public Service Awards promote the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. They encourage exemplary public service and recognize that democracy and successful governance are built on a competent civil service.