The fees for girls will be halved at entrance tests for polytechnics or ITI vocational courses and 30 percent seats reserved for them in vocational training programmes, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Thursday.
Addressing an official function to celebrate the first "Kanyashree Dibas" in the state, Banerjee said: "Girls will get 30 percent reservation in vocational training programmes while those registered under 'Kanyashree' scheme will get priority."
"We will also slash by 50 percent the fees for girl students at entrance tests for polytechnics or ITI vocational courses," she said after ceremonially transferring the grants under the Kanyashree scheme to the bank accounts of almost four lakh girl students across the state.
She also presented girl students with bangles named after the scheme which provides an annual scholarship of Rs.500 to girls between 13 and 18 years (class eight to class 12) to continue their studies, provided they are unmarried and their parents' annual income is less than Rs 1.20 lakh.
However, the income restriction is not applicable to those who are orphans or physically challenged.
If a girl continues her studies up to the age of 18, a one-time grant of Rs.25,000 will be deposited in her bank account, provided she is unmarried.
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As part of the celebrations at the Netaji Indoor stadium, Banerjee felicitated 50 girl students for their achievement in different competitions.
She said 16 lakh girls have been registered under the scheme, which she hoped "will now be a global model".
The day was celebrated in every block of the state.