Education and Health in West Bengal - 2 | WBCS Preparation: All Subjects - WBCS (West Bengal) PDF Download

Educational Initiatives and Schemes

• Mid-Day Meal Scheme
  Launched in West Bengal on August 15, 1995, this scheme aims to enhance primary education's universalization by increasing enrollment, retention, and attendance while simultaneously improving students' nutrition in classes I to V.
• Balika Samriddhi Yojana
  Initiated by the Central Government in 1998-99, this integrated program focuses on gender balance and the holistic social and financial development of women, aiming to provide growth opportunities for girl children.
• Project Dipankar
  Launched by the Government of West Bengal in 2011, this initiative provides elementary education to all children in the state, offering free education, collecting data, enrolling new students, and maintaining records of academic progress and nutritional needs.
• Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme
  Introduced in 2013 by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal, this cash transfer scheme incentivizes schooling for teenage girls, delaying marriages until the legal age of 18. It has received the UN's highest Public Service Award for promoting girls' education.
• Sikshashree
  Launched in 2014-15, this scheme provides financial assistance to Scheduled Caste students in classes V to VIII, with an annual parental income below ₹2.5 lakh, aiming to improve their participation in pre-matric stages and reduce dropout rates.
• Utkarsh Bangla Scheme
  Initiated by the Bengal Government in 2016, this program offers vocational training to school dropouts in various fields such as driving, tailoring, and electronic equipment repair.
• Utkarsha Abhijan
  Conducted by Paschim Banga Sarva Shiksha Mission, this learner's assessment program monitors improvements in children's learning levels and assesses the government education system.
• Nirmal Vidyalaya Abhijan
  Organized in West Bengal schools, this program aims to create an enhanced school environment, recognizing and awarding schools for good practices.

Literacy in West Bengal

• Rural Literacy
  According to Census 2011, the rural literacy rate of West Bengal stands at 72.13%. The rural male literacy rate of the state stands at 78.44% and the rural female literacy rate of the state stands at 65.50%.  
• Urban Literacy
  According to Census 2011, the urban literacy rate of West Bengal stands at 84.78%. The male urban literacy rate of the state stands at 88.37% and the female urban literacy rate of the state stands at 76.01%. East Midnapore has highest urban male literacy rate while Kolkata has highest urban female literacy rate.

Health Sector of West Bengal 

• Crude Birth Rate (CBR): West Bengal's CBR is 16%, lower than the national average of 21.4%.
• Crude Death Rate (CDR): The CDR in West Bengal is 6.4%.
• Total Fertility Rate (TFR): West Bengal's TFR is 1.64%.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): West Bengal's IMR is 28, lower than the national average of 34.6.
• Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): West Bengal's MMR is 117.
• Life Expectancy at Birth: West Bengal's life expectancy at birth is 70.2.
• Sex Ratio: West Bengal's sex ratio is 950 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 943.

State Government Measures for Development of Public Health 

• District-wise immunization programs for measles, polio, and other vaccine-preventable illnesses.
• Awareness programs addressing maternal nutrition, proper feeding practices, childhood illness control, and hygiene.
• The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) operates the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) scheme for maternal and infant health.
• The AYUSHMATI scheme provides maternity services, utilizing private nursing homes for deliveries at government rates.
• The West Bengal Cashless Medical Treatment Scheme, integrated with the West Bengal Health Scheme, offers medical insurance cover with online enrollment.
• The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act, 2017, ensures transparency in healthcare.
• Initiatives like Mother and Child Hubs (MCHs), Sick Newborn Stabilization Units (SNSUs), and Sick Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) are being set up.
• Postgraduate Diplomate National Board (DNB) courses have been introduced in 10 districts, and 15,000 medical and paramedical personnel have been recruited.
• Madhur-Sneha, the first Human Milk Bank in the state, was established at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata in 2013.
• Swasthya Sathi, launched in 2016, provides medical insurance cover up to ₹1.5 lakh for all, without a cap on family size or income.
• The West Bengal government supports Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) by providing infrastructure and awards the Swasthya Samman for outstanding services in the public health sector.