A Study on Effectiveness of Kanyashree in Addressing the Problem of Gender Inequality

Sumeli Bhattacharya (), Chayanika Mitra () and Sayantan Bandhu Majumder ()
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Sumeli Bhattacharya: St. Xavier’s University
Chayanika Mitra: St. Xavier’s University
Sayantan Bandhu Majumder: St. Xavier’s University

A chapter in Gender (In)equality and Social Development, 2025, pp 207-222 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This work aims to assess the effectiveness of Kanyashree in addressing the problem of gender inequality by addressing the problem of child marriage. Child marriages and also its consequent effect on literacy among females lead to gender-based discrimination against girls. According to National Family Health Survey (2007–08) data, West Bengal was ranked 4th in child marriages with 54% of total marriages being underage marriages. However, the percentage of dropouts among ever-enrolled females is 23.5 in West Bengal, which is still above the national average of 13.2 according to the 75th round data from the National Sample Survey. The Kanyashree scheme was introduced by the West Bengal Government in 2013 to address the problem of high incidence of child marriage along with other socio-economic problems faced by girls. Under this scheme, the girls are incentivised to enrol in school and continue education till 18 years of age for the one-time K2 grant of Rs. 25,000 which is obtained after completing 18 years of age, on the condition of continuing education and remaining unmarried. However, according to the NFHS 2019–21 data, West Bengal is now ranked 1st in the child marriage questioning the effectiveness of the scheme in order to address the incidence of child marriage. Through this chapter, we try to understand the effectiveness of this scheme in addressing the socio-economic problem of child marriage in West Bengal.

Keywords: Conditional cash transfer; Child marriage; Gender discrimination; Kanyashree scheme (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-96-7979-9_13

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-96-7979-9_13

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