The Kanyashree Prakalpa is a flagship initiative by the Government of West Bengal aimed at improving the status and well-being of adolescent girls through financial support for education and empowerment. Launched in 2013, the project targets girls between the ages of 13 and 18 from economically disadvantaged families, with the goal of preventing early marriage, promoting continued education, and enabling girls to become self-reliant.
The scheme has two primary components: an annual scholarship of ₹1,000 for girls aged 13 to 18 years who are enrolled in school or vocational training, and a one-time grant of ₹25,000 for girls who reach the age of 18 and are still unmarried and pursuing education. Kanyashree not only helps reduce the financial burden of schooling for girls but also acts as a deterrent to child marriage, a prevalent issue in rural and semi-urban areas. The program has been widely praised for empowering young women, increasing school retention rates, and enhancing gender equity across the state. Recognized internationally, the project won the prestigious United Nations Public Service Award in 2017 for its impact on promoting gender equality.
