WUNRN
West
Bengal is a state in the eastern
region of India
and is the nation's fourth-most
populous state, with over 91 million inhabitants. It is bordered by the
countries of Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and the Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, and Assam. The state
capital is Kolkata.
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Women's Feature Service
Across West
By Saadia Azim
Paschim Medinipur District (Women’s Feature Service) –
Last monsoon, Anu Nayak’s elder sister dropped out of school. This year, it was
the turn of Anu, 16 years old and a ninth grader from Midnapore town of
Every rainy season, Nayak’s family falls into bad
times financially because her father, a municipal sweeper, struggles with his
job. With an exponential increase in his work load, he slogs all day but come
nightfall he squanders his earnings on alcohol. Consequently, there is hardly
any money left to keep the kitchen fires burning let alone fulfill any other
need.
Being the daughter of a sanitation worker, who belongs
to one of the most backward and outcast communities, depravation and
discrimination have been a part of the 16-year-old’s life for as long as she
can remember. So naturally, she was ready to give up the ‘perk’ of schooling
after which she knew she parents would start talking about an early marriage.
“What difference would it have made anyway? As it is
our classes have been quite erratic because of the constant threat of extremist
violence in the region. There have been so many times when I have not been able
to attend school due to some incident. Last year, my sister had to drop out of
school because my mother could not find work to pay for her education. And
moreover, in my community girls do not study beyond Class Five. Why would my
situation be any different?”
Resigned to her fate, Nayak was mentally preparing
herself for the bleak future that awaited her – till she heard of something
that has given her a reason to hope. Across
The
“Recently, when my mother heard of this scheme she not
only got my sister re-enrolled into school but now she doesn’t want to pull me
out either. My grandmother who, till a few months back, was insisting upon her
marriage has dropped the idea altogether. She knows that way we would be
entitled to the cash benefit being given by the government. These days, my
sister Bharti and I both go to school regularly. Once Bharti turns 18 next year
she is hopeful of getting Rs 25,000, some of which will enable her to do a
course later,” says Nayak with a wide smile.
This conditional cash transfer scheme is exactly what
young girls in
As per the third District Level Household
Facility Survey (DLHFS),
When the Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme was being conceptualised, a couple of factors
were taken into consideration. It was felt that the greatest obstacle to girls'
education was child marriage, domestic responsibilities and early pregnancy.
“So, if early marriage could be discouraged then it would automatically mean a
better life for them later on. We felt that keeping girls in school was the
best way to deal with this grave problem. The Kanyashree scheme was launched
last year and it has become immensely popular. Even as the beneficiaries get a
small sum annually as an incentive to go to school it’s the expectation of the
one-time sizeable grant of Rs 25,000 that keeps them there till they turn 18.
Moreover, from this year on, August 14 will be celebrated as Kanyashree Diwas,”
elaborates Farzana Alam, Deputy Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Reveals Toton Saspillya, Ward Councillor of Midnapore
Municipal Corporation, “In the first year, more than 16 lakh girls in the district
have registered under this scheme. The response has been phenomenal.” At the
village level, it’s the gram pradhan, who works in tandem with the Block
Development Officer, to provide an income certificate – monthly earnings of not
more than Rs 10,000 – which is one of the key criteria for registration. The
municipal corporation councillor through the district administration does the
same in towns. The head teachers of the nearest secondary/higher secondary
schools have been instructed to help applicants in the process and facilitate
the opening of a bank account. At the same time, banks have been directed to
open the accounts by setting up camps in schools. The Kanyashree application
and the account opening form are submitted at school.
“Although girls
covered under the scholarship scheme get small annual support of Rs 500, for
families whose annual income is not more than Rs 50,000, even this is a big
support. In addition, the child feels empowered as she gets a bank account in
her name,” observes Tafajjal Hossen, Pradhan of
Bankibandh Anchal village in Salboni block, which is a hotbed for Naxal
violence.
Rumni Jasmin, 14, a Class Nine student of
Nandari Sastri Smrity Vidyapith in Satbanki
“It’s my dream to become a teacher,”
shares Sutapa Hati, 15, another youngster from Satbanki, “Earlier, it seemed
impossible for one to pursue studies. Sometimes the school would be closed and
sometimes my parents would fear for my safety, which is generally a matter
concern for most families in the area. They don’t want to take any risk of
abuse or assault so marriage looks like a better option. Of course, with this
support coming in my resolve to have a career has only gotten firmer. I will
definitely complete my education.”
For the remarkable impact it has already had the Kanyashree scheme has been recognised by UNICEF and Department of International Development (DFID) as a model for curbing child marriage and promoting girl child education. The UNICEF is also assisting the state in the evaluation and monitoring of the Rs 1,000 crore scheme that is expected to benefit more than 24 lakh girls by the end of the financial year.
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