India: UNICEF project support for a bright future for girls – eSHOP24X7

Beena, Meena, Riya and ShatabdiThese four brave girls from West Bengal are associated with the ‘Kanyashree Project’ for education and self-reliance, and are writing their future with their own hands, standing firm against social evils.

The ‘Kanyashree Prakalp’ project, launched in 2013 in collaboration with UNICEF, is a cash transfer scheme of the Government of West Bengal to help underprivileged girls achieve their dreams by providing them with conditional cash grants.

This plan has come as a ray of hope in the lives of adolescent girls. By offering financial incentives to adolescent girls to continue their education, child marriage of girls from vulnerable groups is curbed and their social and economic empowerment is made possible.

These four girls have now become a unique example of empowerment in society. Kanyashree has shown them the way to fulfill their dreams by giving them respect, education and living an independent life.

Beena: fight against early marriage

Beena wanted to win a medal by playing like her elder sisters.

For Beena, the ‘Kanyashree Prakalp’ scheme was like a shield that saved her from the evil that was prevalent in her community, i.e. early marriage. Growing up with five siblings, Beena watched her father struggle alone to raise his children after her mother died.

But instead of succumbing to the pressure of getting married at a young age, Beena chose a different path.

“I wanted to play like my elder sisters and win medals,” says Beena. The Rs 1,000 I received annually under the Kanyashree K-1 scheme helped me pay my school fees and focus on sports.

An emotional Beena thanked Kanyashree and said, “Thanks to Kanyashree, I refused to get married early. “Now I encourage other girls in the community to do the same.”

The money received from the scheme has helped girls continue their school education. Kanyashree Yojana, through financial assistance, has helped countless girls pursue higher education, opening up new opportunities and breaking the cycle of poverty, reducing the pressure on girls to marry at an early age.

Meena: Ambition to continue higher education

Meena is studying to be a nurse.

In many areas of West Bengal, the evil practice of child marriage has been practiced for a long time. Due to social norms, religious practices and economic pressure, families are often forced to marry off their daughters at a young age.

This has a negative impact on the education, health and future of adolescent girls. Kanyashree Yojana aims to address this issue by helping girls complete their studies and preventing them from getting married until they legally turn 18 years of age.

Meena firmly says, “Kanyashree Yojana has not only helped me continue my studies but has also shown me the path to get rid of evil practices like child marriage that are prevalent in my family and society.”

For girls like Meena, Kanyashree Yojana is like a ray of hope, which has given them wings to break social and family barriers and fulfill their dreams. The youngest of five siblings, Meena’s three elder sisters were married soon after completing her school education.

But Meena did not accept this. To fulfill his ambitions, he got the support of Kanyashree K-2 Scheme and took a bold step to secure his future.

Meena entered college for higher education with the Rs 25,000 received under this scheme. Additionally, to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, she bought a laptop to help her in her studies.

RIA: Financial Education and Self-Defense Training

Riya, an eighth class student, is undergoing self-defense training at her school by joining the Kanyashree Club.

Riya, an eighth class student, got the path to her future thanks to the Kanyashree Club running in her school. These clubs are part of the Kanyakshree Prakalp scheme, through which training such as leadership skill development, financial literacy and self-defence is provided.

By undergoing training at Kanyashree Club, Rhea also taught her family about cyber security and financial security. Riya says, “Kanyashree has given me the courage to make thoughtful decisions and stand up for myself.”

“By joining the club, I learned how to budget, which helps me save money. Now I help my family manage household finances.” Kanyashree clubs were formed to help teenage girls develop various skills such as conversation, learning and leadership.

In these clubs, in addition to running sports, self-defense courses, financial education workshops, awareness campaigns on children’s rights and cybersecurity issues are also carried out.

Participating in various club activities helps girls build self-confidence, develop a sense of belonging, and gain many important life skills. This allows them to make decisions and contribute positively to their communities.

Centennial: wave of change

Shatabdi works with an NGO in her village to raise awareness about the Kanyashree Project and empower other girls to fulfill their dreams.

Shatabdi’s life is a unique example of determination, ambition and desire to do something different. Growing up in a poor family, Shatabdi’s problems increased further when his father suffered from mental health issues. Despite poverty and adverse internal circumstances, Shatabdi did not abandon his education.

With the financial aid of Rs 25,000 from Kanyashree K-2, Shatabdi completed her studies and despite getting married at the age of 19, she battled difficult circumstances and earned a postgraduate degree.

After making a change in her life with the help received from Kanyashree Yojana, Shatabdi is today busy raising awareness among other girls in her village. She is working closely with an NGO to help girls fulfill their dreams and stay on their feet.

towards a better future

“UNICEF began its journey with Kanyashree in 2013, collaborating with the Government of West Bengal to design this conditional financial assistance scheme,” says Swapnodipa Biswas, UNICEF Child Protection Officer in West Bengal.

“We are focused on building a sustainable model to launch the plan and expand its impact,” he said.

“Post launch, we deepened our collaboration with the district administration and focused on empowering girls by organizing workshops on topics like education, skills, self-advocacy, behavior change, etc.

Kanyashree Prakalp’s scheme continues and gives a ray of hope to countless girls of West Bengal.