Kanyashree Prakalpa-West Bengal

Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme being implemented by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal (DWD&SW) with the aim of improving the status and well being of the girl child in West Bengal by incentivizing schooling of all teenage girls and delaying their marriages until the age of 18, the legal age of marriage.

Components of Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme

The scheme has two components:

• Annual Scholarship of Rs. 500/-(Rupees Five hundred only)

• One time Grant of Rs. 25,000/-(Rupees Twenty-five thousand only)

The Annual Scholarship is for unmarried girls aged between 13-18 years enrolled in Classes VIII-XII in government-recognized regular or equivalent open school or equivalent vocational/technical training course.

The One-time Grant is for girls turned 18 at the time of application, enrolled in government recognized regular or open school/college or pursuing vocational/technical training or sports activity, or is an inmate of Home registered under J.J. Act 2000

Both the benefits under the scheme will be granted to girls who belong to families with annual family income not more than Rs. 1, 20,000/- (Rupees One Lakh and twenty thousand only. The bar for the family is not applicable if the girl has lost both parents, is physically challenged (40% disability) or is an inmate of J.J. Home.

Given that child marriage has a grossly negative impact on the lives of children, adolescents, and young women, this scheme is expected to bring about improved outcomes in terms of their educational status, health (especially facilitate the prevention of infant and maternal mortality), and contribute towards the empowerment of the girls in the State, and bring immeasurable benefits for the larger society as a whole.

Objectives of Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme

Following are the objectives of Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme.

• Incentivizing girl child to continue in education for a longer period of time, and complete secondary or higher secondary education, or equivalent in technical or vocational streams, thereby giving them a better footing in both the economic and social spheres.

• Disincentivizing marriage till at least the age of 18, the legal age of marriage, thereby reducing the risks of early pregnancies, associated risks of maternal and child mortality, and other debilitating health conditions, including those of malnutrition.

• It was also decided that the Scheme should confer more than just monetary support; it should be a means of financial inclusion and a tool of empowerment for adolescent girls. The scheme's benefits are therefore paid directly to bank accounts in the girls' names, leaving the decision of utilization of the money in their hands.

• To reinforce the positive impact of increased education and delayed marriages, the scheme also works to enhance the social power and self-esteem of girls through a targeted behavior change communication strategy. The 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.

Beneficiaries of Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme

Following are the beneficiaries of Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme.

• All girl children within the age of 13 to 19 years from families with annual income up to Rs 120000/-

• Girls regularly attending institutions for education or vocational/sports training

• Girls of Child Care Institutes registered under J.J. Act within the age of 18-19 years

• For the one-time grant, girls who are completing 18 years on or after 1st April 2013

• Approximately 18 Lakhs girl students for the annual scholarship each year

• Approximately 3.5 Lakhs girls for one time grant each year

Benefits of Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme

Following are the benefits of Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme.

• Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme gives an Annual Scholarship of Rs. 750/- to the girls who are between the ages of 13 and 18 years.

• The one-time grant of Rs. 25,000/- is for the girls who are between the ages of 18 and 19.

Eligibility Criteria for applying Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme

Following are the eligibility criteria for applying Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme.

• Residents of West Bengal 

• Enrolled and regularly attending an educational institution 

• Unmarried 

• From families where the total income is not more than Rs. 1,20,000 per year. However, girls who are specially-abled (with a disability of 40% or more) or are living in a Home registered under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, or have lost both parents, may apply for Kanyashree even if their family's income is more than Rs. 1,20,000 per year.

• Girls will be eligible for Kanyashrees Annual Scholarship or the One-Time grant if they are studying in any one of the following:

  • In Class VIII or above in a school, madrassah or equivalent open school course.

  • In a college or equivalent open university course.

  • A Vocational Training Centre, Technical Training Centre or Industrial Training Centre

  • Girls enrolled in Sports Institutes may apply for the One-Time Grant. They cannot however, apply for the Annual Scholarship.

• The educational institution MUST be registered in West Bengal AND recognized by the government

Documents required for applying Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme

Following are the documents required for applying Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme.

• Age proof document – Copy of Birth Certificate

• A statement declaration of being unmarried

• Income certificate

• Certificate of enrolment and attendance by Head of Institution of Education or Training

• Copy of Certificate of Disability (for handicapped girls)

• Photocopy of bank passbook

How to apply for Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme?

• Collect the application form from the institution the applicant is studying in :

• The application forms for the Annual Scholarship – also called K1, are printed on light green paper, while the One-Time Grant application forms, also called K2 are printed on light blue paper.

• Girls who have received K1 and are still below 18yrs fulfilling other conditions (Renewal): Get in touch with HOI who would verify the unmarried status and age and would process the renewal.

• Girls who have received K1 and have crossed 18yrs now (Up-Gradation): Collect pre-printed K2 Up-gradation form from the institution, fill it up and again submit. If they have already received K1 please do not fill up the colored K2 form, it will be treated as a duplicate applicant in that case.

• Open a bank account in your name :

• The girl must have a bank account in your name when applying for the Scheme. This is because Kanyashrees benefits will be sent by the government directly to your bank account. If you do not have a bank account, ask your institution's Head Teacher to assist you in opening one.

• Please ensure the spelling of your name do not differ in the bank account and that of the application form.

• Fill up the application form

• Provide necessary documents

• Collect acknowledgment receipt: Kanyashree application form has a tear-off section on Page 3 titled Acknowledgement as per WBRTPS Act 2013. When the completed application form is hand over to Head Teacher, he/she will fill the details in, sign it and put an official stamp, tear off that portion and hand it over to you.

• Keep the Acknowledgement slip carefully– it contains Form No, name and other details, and is proof that you have applied for Kanyashree.

How to check the Application status of Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme?

Follow the below steps to apply for Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme.

• Visit West Bengal Kanyashree website

•  Click on Track Application

• Enter the required details and click on Submit button

• You will get the Status of your Application.