Kolkata: The state govt has decided to double the annual financial grant for girl students from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 under the girl child education scheme ‘Kanya Ratna’, which was earlier called ‘Kanyasree’ in the state. The grant will be available from the next academic year, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Friday.
Launching the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ programme in the state on the occasion of Kanya Ratna Divas, the CM said that, inspired by Vidyasagar’s vision, the state govt was committed to the expansion and empowerment of female education.
“In our budget, we have kept all financial provisions, ranging from prioritising women in employment to female education, women’s colleges and universities and colleges for higher education so that no girl student has to drop out midway,” the CM said at Dhano Dhanye auditorium where around 1,600 girl students from various schools and colleges of Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas were present.
The CM said that although the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme existed in all states, it was not implemented in Bengal until now. “The Rs 1,000 grant that our daughters are receiving will be doubled from the next academic year; that is, Rs 2,000 will be given annually,” the CM said.
The CM said that for colleges and universities, male and female students will be given Rs 50,000 for higher education. “For those who score more than 60% marks, the Vivekananda Merit Scholarship Scheme has been kept active. Along with that, a new scheme has been introduced in the name of Vivekananda. For studying abroad or for higher education after passing national-level exams, a fund of Rs 100 crore has been created in the name of Swami Vivekananda,” the CM said.
Regarding the previous govt’s programme of providing money to girl students, the CM said that the same amount is being given this time as well. “More than 20 lakh are receiving it this time. Today, after verification by schools, money is being transferred to more than 10 lakh girl students, amounting to Rs 400 crore,” the CM said.
The CM also launched the new 181 helpline number for women and unveiled a new creche initiative ‘PALNA’ designed to provide safe day care facilities, nutrition and early cognitive development for children of working women. This scheme is primarily delivered through Anganwadi-cum-creches.