Examining the impact of the kasturba gandhi balika vidyalaya (kgbv) scheme on the academic life satisfaction of female learners in jhargram and bankura districts

This study investigates the impact of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme on the academic life satisfaction of female learners in the Jhargram and Bankura districts. The KGBV residential schools serve as an extrinsic intervention designed to support academically disadvantaged girls from marginalized communities. Employing a descriptive survey within an ex-post-facto design, data were collected using the Multidimensional Students Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) from two groups: beneficiaries enrolled in KGBV hostels and a comparable reference group of non-beneficiaries. Each group comprised295 staying in KGBV hostels (Study Group) and 589 attending as day-scholars (Reference Group) female students respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that both groups reported high levels of academic life satisfaction, but the day-scholars expressed higher satisfaction. Despite coming from socio-economically deprived backgrounds, KGBV beneficiaries displayed life satisfaction levels almost equivalent to their non-beneficiary peers. These findings suggest that the KGBV scheme effectively supports the psychological well-being of its students.