UN honours Mamata Banerjee for Kanyashree Prakalpa

The UN has bestowed its highest public service award on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her project 'Kanyashree Prakalpa'.

Started in 2011, Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme aimed at educating and empowering girls.

Dedicating the award to the people of West Bengal and her country at large, she told India Today,

"We are delighted on behalf of our countrymen and the people of Bengal to receive the first prize on UN Public Service Day. Receiving the first prize from the UN for Kanyashree is a huge honour and recognition."

Kanyashree was chosen from among social sector schemes from 62 countries.

Banerjee received the award from the UN Assistant Secretary General at the World Forum, The Hague, where the ceremony took place.

Four million adolescent girls have so far been enrolled in this scheme, which has been implemented through 16,000 institutes and schools across West Bengal.

Kanyashree Prakalpa bagged the award for proving efficient in reaching the poor and vulnerable sections of the population, according to The Times of India.

The Chief Minister also emphasised on her plan for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 through other innovative means and programmes.

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