Role of public libraries in women empowerment a study with special reference to kanyashree prakalpa of murshidabad district in west bengal

Abstract

The major trend in the social structure of the modern era is the shift in the gender newlinerelations interactions between partners at the micro-level and influenced by macro newlinestructures influenced by the different schemes and services introduced by the newlinegovernment of a country. newlineThis re-standardization is possible due to the newlineenhancement of the status of women in the society. Women s political newlineempowerment, that is, increased legislative representation, if missing, goes against newlinethe very basis of any democracy. Since independence, the government has newlineundertaken different gender specific and convergent policies to better the condition newlineof women. A pronounced focus on the rapid amelioration of the miseries of newlinewomen has helped the status and position in all fronts of human development. newlineHowever, glaring loopholes still threaten the government policies to end in a newlinefiasco. Corruption and lack of desire still stand as bottlenecks in the successful newlineimplementation of the policies launched by the government since independence. newlineEducation is still a far cry for many women because the girl child is still treated in newlinedifferent parts of the country as a helping hand to mother rather than anything else. newlineSince education is the key to the development of an individual, it has to be newlineimparted to all women if we have to practically experience the progress of society newlinein general and the individual in particular. If sustainable development of the newlinesociety is a mandate, it warrants women empowerment. Due to poverty, social newlineinsecurity and several other influential factors, girls dropout rate was higher than newlineboys dropout rate, especially after post elementary education. To reduce this rate newlineand empower the girl child the historic Kanyashree Project was launched by the newlineGovernment of West Bengal on 1st October, 2013. This historic project has been newlineframed by two components, viz. KP1 and KP2. Under Component KP1, there is newlinean annual scholarship of INR 750 to unmarried girls aged 13-18 years enrolled in newlineGrades VIII-XII or equivalent.