UN honours Bengal CM with highest public service award
June 24, 2017 17:45
The West Bengal government is among the winners to receive the prestigious UN Public Service Award today for its initiative to combat child marriage and ensure education to the girl child in the state.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee received the 2017 UN Public Service Award at a ceremony held in The Hague, Netherlands on behalf of her government for the 'Kanyashree Prakalpa' initiative that sought to reduce the high child marriage rates and low female education rates in the state.
Through the initiative, cash was deposited into the bank account of girls for every year they remained in school and were unmarried.
Citing the impact the initiative had, the UN said it led to a "drastic reduction in child marriage, increase in female education and female empowerment."
Speaking at the ceremony, Banerjee said "public service is service for all; it means continuous monitoring and regular service for the people."
"We are delighted on behalf of our countrymen and the people of #Bengal to receive the first prize on @UN Public Service Day," Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle soon after receiving the award.
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