Author: Saswati Mandal & Dr. Kamlesh Kumar
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03120040
Abstract: Child marriage remains one of the most critical social challenges affecting the physical, psychological, educational, and economic development of girls, particularly in developing societies. In India, despite legislative measures and social awareness initiatives, early marriage continues to restrict girls’ autonomy and educational opportunities. The Government of West Bengal introduced Kanyashri Prakalpa in 2013 as a conditional cash transfer scheme aimed at improving the status of adolescent girls by encouraging their continued education and delaying marriage until the legally permissible age. The present study explores the role of Kanyashri Prakalpa in preventing child marriage through a socio-educational perspective. The study examines how financial incentives, educational continuation, increased awareness, and social empowerment contribute to transforming attitudes towards early marriage. The article argues that Kanyashri Prakalpa has emerged not merely as an economic assistance programme but as a comprehensive social intervention promoting girls’ education, decision-making capacity, self-confidence, and gender equality. However, challenges related to poverty, patriarchal norms, social resistance, and implementation gaps continue to influence its effectiveness. The study concludes that Kanyashri Prakalpa represents an important model of gender-responsive public policy, but sustained community participation and educational interventions are essential for achieving long-term social transformation.
Keywords: Kanyashri Prakalpa, Child Marriage, Girls’ Education, Women Empowerment, Gender Equality, Social Policy, West Bengal.
Page No: 335-344