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Kanyashree plan widened

Kanyashree plan widened

TT, Calcutta: Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced the removal of the family income cap from her pet scheme Kanyashree.

The move came ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and will take the number of beneficiaries to 53 lakh from around 50 lakh now, sources said.

Under the scheme, girls aged 13 and studying in Class VIII get Rs 1,000 annually till the age of 18. If they continue studies after 18, they are eligible for a one-time support of Rs 25,000. To enrol in the scheme, the annual family income of the girl must be within Rs 1.5 lakh.

"There will be no bar on income in enrolling girls attaining 13 years of age and studying in Class VIII under the programme. Three lakh more girls would get the benefit immediately and the state has to spend an additional Rs 200 crore," Mamata said at an event to celebrate the five-year-old scheme.

The government wanted to bring more girls under the scheme as it has produced good results. "The school dropout rate among girls has come down by 11.5 per cent since the scheme was launched. We want to take it forward and that's why there will be no bar in joining Kanyashree from now," said the chief minister.

Officials said the addition of 3 lakh beneficiaries could benefit Trinamul. "The scheme is a success, particularly in rural areas, and it has strengthened the base of the ruling party," said an official.

Mamata announced a series of plans for Kanyashree beneficiaries, including skill and vocational training, to make them self-sufficient. A Kanyashree University, for higher studies, will be set up by the state higher education department.

The chief minister instructed officials to ensure Kanyashree beneficiaries don't face any trouble in getting admission in colleges. Several complaints have been made about admissions this year, with allegations that Trinamul-led students' unions had demanded money for such enrolments.

Mamata requested the Kanyashree beneficiaries to raise their voices against "hatred, riots, canards and propaganda", seen an allusion to fight the BJP.

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