Kanyashree Utsav to be held on July 25

The girls who have made achievements in different areas under various Kanyashree schemes will be felicitated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on July 25.

Kanyashree Utsav will be held at the Netaji Indoor stadium. Students who have been benefitted from the scheme from every district will take part in the celebration. It may be recalled that the United Nations had handed over the first prize for the scheme to Mamata Banerjee at a function held in connection with the observance of Public Service Day on June 23 at The Hague.

Kanyashree named by Banerjee is her most favourite project. It has brought 40 lakh girls under its umbrella so far. The scheme aims at effectively empowering girls through all-round development stressing on ending early marriage and opening up options for young women. The scheme has won awards both nationally and internationally. The Digital Empowerment Foundation bestowed Manthan award for Digital Inclusion and Development and the UNICEF and DFID organised Girl Summit in 2014. The scheme proved to be the best in the Public Service category at the UN forum from among 552 schemes across 63 countries.

Shortly after getting the award on June 23, a visibly happy Chief Minister had announced the celebration from The Hague.

After coming to power, Banerjee introduced the scheme to help a girl child to get education and become self-reliant much before the Centre had announced the Beti Bachao Beti Padao scheme. The mothers of newly born girl children are given tree saplings which they can grow under Sabuj Shree scheme and use for the education of the girls when they attain the age of 18 years. Under Sabuj Sathi project, bicycles are given to the students of Classes IX to XII studying in state-run, sponsored and aided schools. The project has also supported the girls to carry on with their studies.

Banerjee has always believed that her Kanyashree will be the model for supporting girls to become educated and self-reliant and the national and international awards have proved the global acceptance of the scheme.