West Bengal's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme Wins SKOCH Awardin Women & Child Development Category

By: WE STAFF | Monday, 31 October 2022

Lakshmir Bhandar scheme run by the West Bengal government has won the SKOCH award in the women and child development category.

Speaking about the significance of the award, chief minister Mamata Banerjee saidthat the award is a recognition for the government as well as the nearly two crore women of the state who have been empowered by the scheme.

“I am proud to announce that GoWB’s welfare scheme Lakshmir Bhandar has received the Skoch Award in the Women and Child Development category,” Banerjee said in a tweet.

“Women empowerment has always been a priority for us. It’s a recognition not only for the government but also the 1.8 crore empowered women of West Bengal,” she added.

The scheme was launched in August 2021 by the West Bengal government with an aim to provide financial support to a woman head of a family in the age group of 25-60 years. Under the aegis of the scheme, women in the general caste category receive Rs 500 and women in the SC and ST categories receive around Rs 1,000 per month.

The state government spends approximately Rs 11,000 crore every year to fund the scheme.

Instituted in 2003, the SKOCH Award is given for good governance, inclusive growth, excellence in technology and applications, change management, corporate leadership, corporate governance, citizen services delivery, capacity building and empowerment among others.