Analysis of Kanyashree Prakalpa with Survey Data

Abstract

In India, several issues restrict a girl child to participate in an education system and one of the severe issue is child marriage. Though child marriage adversely affects both boys and girls, the practice has more adverse consequences for girls than for boys. Realizing the fact that reduction of child marriage would not be possible unless it included education as a gateway, the West Bengal Government introduced Kanyashree Prakalpa as a means of inclusive development and women empowerment. This paper studies the impact of a conditional cash transfer program called Kanyashree Prakalpa (KP) in the Indian state of West Bengal that aimed to improve the status and wellbeing of girls by reducing incidence of child marriage and increasing the secondary or higher education of girls till at least 18 years of age using secondary data. The main objectives of this paper is to analyse about the distribution pattern of grant and the effectiveness of this policy. Using different survey data, the present study is conducted to assess the impact of Kanyashree Prakalpa on the girl child in West Bengal. The paper also tries to highlight some social issues related to this policy. The study reveals that this policy has made success in reducing the child marriage as the percentage of drop out falls and number of girl child having formal education increases in the state throughout the year.