Kanyashree an int'l model now, says an ecstatic Mamata

The Chief Minister tweeted: "Today is National Girl Child Day. We are proud of our Kanyashree girls. Our scheme for the girl child is an international model now. My best wishes to all."

The Chief Minister took the state to the top of the world with Bengal bagging the first prize in United Nations Public Service Award for Asia Pacific in Netherlands for the Kanyashree Prakalpa on June 24 in 2017. After coming to power, Banerjee had initiated the project to bring an end to issues like child marriage and at the same time, to reduce dropout rates in schools. The project has become successful and helped in making girls of the state self-reliant.

So far, financial assistance has been provided to around 60 lakh girl students up to class XII under the scheme, that was launched on October 1 in 2013.

Many girl students had utilised the money that they received under the scheme after completing class XII, in initiating some business to become self-dependent. Even in East Burdwan, some beneficiaries of Kanyashree Prakalpa had taken up a unique project of making cakes called "The Great EsCake", utilising the one time grant of Rs 25,000 to become self-reliant.

A programme was also organised at Netaji Indoor Stadium to celebrate the success of Kanyashree Prakalpa in earning worldwide recognition, when UNO had handed over award to the Chief Minister at the function of Public Day celebration at The Hague.

In the programme, Banerjee had announced that girl students continuing with higher studies after class XII, will also be brought under the Kanyashree Prakalpa.

Any girl studying in arts stream in post-graduation, who has secured 45 percent marks, will get Rs 2,000 per month, while Rs 2500 will be given to students in science stream.