West Bengal: In district where half the newly-wed girls are minors, one scheme helps them stay in school

This is Purulia district, where the 2011 survey revealed that 53 per cent of all marriages were “child marriages”, officials in the Child Protection Office say.

[related-post]

All changed in 2014, though, when the state government announced its flagship Kanyashree Scheme, which offers every girl an annual amount of Rs 500 and another Rs 25,000 upon successfully completing the higher secondary with at least 85 per cent attendance. Until she completes her education, though, the girl has to remain unmarried.

“There used to be many child marriages before. But this has reduced by 90 per cent. We barely hear of it any more. Even if families admit their children for monetary gains, the fact is that the girl child is getting educated and stays in school at least till she turns 18,” Biswas says.

Soukat Ali Ansari, father to three daughters and two sons, learnt about the scheme just in time for two of his daughters. “We were about to get married,” said Sajma (14), the youngest. Now, they are still studying at Chatrabhasha Junior High School.

They will finish their higher secondary, become eligible for the Rs 25,000 and then possibly get married when their father finds suitable grooms for them.

“In Malda and Murshidabad, the average age for the marriage of a girl is 12-14 years. In Purulia, it is 15,” says District Protection Officer Nilima Das Chodhury.

“We go to villagers and tell them about various schemes, especially Kanyashree, which has been very effective,” she says. When schemes don’t help, “we go with police and stop them”.

In Herodih village, 14-year-old Momen Khatoun’s father Ilyas Ansari says he will keep his daughter in school until she graduates. He has already opened a bank account in her name. “I am yet to collect the previous year’s amount (Rs 500). I will use the Kanyashree money to get her married. It’ll be a huge help as dowries can go up to Rs 1 lakh. But it’s good she will be educated. If she wants to work, she will be able to,” he says.