Born a girl child in Bengal? The answer comes with state-backed support aimed at education, health and financial security and led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
As India celebrates National Girl Child Day on January 24 every year, the focus is aimed at promoting awareness regarding the rights, education, health and safety of girls, thus fostering gender equality throughout the country.
This date reminds us of India's pledge to uplift and empower girls across all sections of the society while also addressing many handicaps related to gender, including long-standing issues of bias against females, child marriage and unequal access to resources for opportunity.
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In West Bengal, translating these commitments into actions, several women-centric schemes have been implemented to support girls from early childhood to adolescent years and beyond into adulthood, ensuring the overall well-being of all women.
Speaking to News Ei Samay, state Women and Child Development and Social Welfare minister Shashi Panja said, "The government of West Bengal under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee took the initiative to launch policies to empower women and girl child. It started from Kanyashree in 2013 followed by August 14 in 2014 when she labelled this day as 'Kanyashree Dibas' or Girl Child Day. We celebrate this day with more priority."
"In addition, we have a State Child’s right commission body that works completely autonomous. This body was also motivated to start Child Right’s Week starting from November 14. It’s a week-long event that is celebrated and we have prioritised this much more. Our Kanyashree scheme was also lauded by UNESCO and our CM went to receive this award. This has been a major motivation scheme for girl child in various aspects."
She added, “We focused on empowerment of women in various areas through various schemes, including political field too in terms of our representation.”
As far as landmark achievements are considered, Shashi Panja said, "Lakshmir Bhandar and Kanyashree have been the game-changing landmark achievements of the government that have empowered women on various fronts. Lakshmir Bhandar recognises the dignity of unpaid labour."
The minister further elaborated on schemes like Swasthya Sathi among others that promotes gender equality in Bengal.
On Safety
According to 2023 National Crime Records Bureau data (NCRB) data, Kolkata ranks very high concerning safety for women in India, with the lowest rate of cognisable offences among large metropolitan areas (83.9 per 1,00,000 inhabitants) for the fourth year in a row. When asked about the same, Shashi Panja lauded the government's efforts and stated, "We have POCSO courts and have severe laws. We passed Aparajita Bill that gives harsh punishment to the rapists but that awaits Presidential nod due to political hindrance of BJP. It is very unfortunate.”
She concluded, “It’s not about your crime vs my crime but when you see the data , the outlook towards women in other states in comparison to Kolkata would give you a real picture while NCRB data shows how Kolkata is the safest city while BJP shelters and supports rapists.”
Here are some of the schemes that the state provides to its daughters:
Lakshmir Bhandar
Lakshmir Bhandar is a social protection scheme which provides financial empowerment to women. It was launched by the Government of West Bengal during the Duare Sarkar outreach campaign in August–September, 2021.
As part of the scheme, all women aged 25-60 years in Bengal, enrolled in 'Swasthya Sathi', are entitled to receive the benefits, except those drawing government salary or pension, according to the state government.
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While women from SC/ST households are getting Rs 1,200 every month, women in General/Other categories receive Rs 1,000 per month. Lakshmir Bhandar was also the recipient of the prestigious 'SKOCH Award Platinum' in the category of Women & Child Development in October, 2022.
Kanyashree Prakalpa
The Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme was launched by the Bengal government on October 1, 2013. This is a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme that incentivises the schooling of all teenage girls between the ages of 13 and 18, simultaneously dis-incentivising child marriage, informs the government website.
However, the scheme serves far more than just financial enablement. Its communication strategy not only builds awareness of the scheme, but includes adolescent-friendly approaches like events, competitions and Kanyashree clubs and the endorsement of strong women figures as role models to promote social and psychological empowerment.
Rupashree Prakalpa
On January 21, 2018 during the state Budget for 2018-19 fiscal, the Finance minister announced a one-time financial grant of Rs 25,000 for economically-stressed families at the time of their adult daughter marriages.
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The grant is aimed at mitigating the hardships that poor families face in bearing the expenditure of their daughters' marriages for which they often have to loan money at very high interest rates.
Ensuring the scheme is not misused, the eligibility criteria requires the applicant to have completed 18 years of age and the prospective groom's age is 21 years.
