Girl students from private schools now eligible for Rs 25,000 grant under Bengal government’s popular Kanyashree project

The United Nations award winning project of the West Bengal government – Kanyashree – that was so far applicable to girls studying in state-run schools, will now cover girls from private schools across the state as well. Conceived in order to prevent child marriage and to encourage girls to complete schools and aspire for higher education, the project offers a government grant of Rs 25,000 once the girls complete class XII and turn 18 years. So far there are 57,32,408 unique beneficiaries with 1,51,69,501 sanctioned applications.

The project has been a resounding success in the state and has helped prevent child marriage, checked the number of school dropouts and encouraged families to make their girls take up higher studies. Initially, only those girls whose family income was below Rs 1.5 lakh could apply for the grant. Later, this cap was withdrawn.

According to a senior official, “There are a number of private schools – especially in small towns and semi-urban areas – where middle class families with average income send their children, and this group will benefit immensely from Kanyashree.”

He added that marrying off girls at a young age is not just common among the very poor, but exists in middle income groups as well. Moreover, the government feels that once the extremely poor have been already covered, extending the programme will help in reducing any disparity between the rich and the poor and make it possible for anyone willing to benefit from the project.

However, so far, only girls studying in state-run schools could apply for Kanyashree. But a new directive – sent to all districts – from the government says that even those studying in private schools can apply for the grant under the project. Each and every girl child is thus being brought under the programme now.

Those keen on getting the grant will have to apply online, and the names of the schools will be sent to the government for approval. Following this clearance, the schools will have to get a registration for implementing the Kanyashree project. Once this is done, all girls studying in the school can be brought under the project.