West Bengal’s Disturbing Record: Why Kanyashree Isn’t Enough to Stop Child Marriages
West Bengal has once again topped a troubling list — highest proportion of females married before the age of 18, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) data released in 2023. The figure stands at a shocking 6.3%, nearly triple the national average of 2.1%. Even more concerning is that this rate is higher in urban areas (7.6%) than in rural (5.8%), defying common expectations. Jharkhand follows at 4.6%, with states like Kerala and Himachal Pradesh at the other end with negligible rates. For years, West Bengal’s Kanyashree Prakalpa, a scheme that provides financial incentives to girls to stay in school until 18, has been hailed as a flagship success story. Yet, these new numbers force us to ask tough questions: Why is child marriage still rampant despite these efforts? Has Kanyashree reached its limits? The Limits of Kanyashree Kanyashree’s vision was bold and commendable — empowering girls through education and economic support to delay marriage and build a better futu...