Kolkata: Bangles which are being given to the girl child who are getting registered under the 'Kanyashree' scheme is costing Rs 23.75 each to the West Bengal state government, Child Welfare inister Shashi Panja told the Assembly here on Wednesday.
She said the bangles were made of an alloy with a gold plating, prompting one of the Left lady members to say how could a gold-plated item cost only Rs 23.75.
Panja retorted and questioned that can't a poor girl child wear a gold-plated bangle.
She said it was not a prize, but a mere honour given to them.
As on May 22 this year, 23.20 lakh girl child students got registered under the scheme, Panja informed the House during Question Hour.
School attendance rates have also gone up after the scheme was launched, she said.
The state had also drawn up a child protection plan to arrest child trafficking, the minister said and also asked a Trinamool member to name the bank, which he was mentioning that was deducting Rs 69 from the Kanyashree amount from the beneficiaries' accounts.
