Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana

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Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao logo.svg
CountryIndia
Prime Minister(s)Narendra Modi
MinistryA joint initiative of MoWCD, MoHFW and MoE
Launched22 January 2015; 6 years ago (2015-01-22)
StatusActive

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (transl. Save the girl child, educate the girl child) is a campaign of the Government of India that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls in India. The scheme was launched with an initial funding of ₹100 crore (US$14 million).[1] It mainly targets the clusters in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Bihar and Delhi.[2][3]

Background[]

According to census data in India, the child sex ratio (0–6 years) in India was 927 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001, which dropped to 918[1] girls for every 1,000 boys in 2011. In the Population Census of 2011 it was revealed that the population ratio of India 2011 is 919 females per 1000 of males. The Sex Ratio 2011 shows a downward trend from the census 2001 data.[1]

Speaking on the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child in 2014, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had called for the eradication of female foeticide and invited suggestions from the citizens of India via the MyGov.in portal.[4]

The launch meeting in 2015

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched on 22 January 2015 by PM Narendra Modi.[5][6] It aims to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio image (CSR) and is a national initiative jointly run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Education. It initially focused multi-sector action in 100 districts throughout the country where there was a low CSR.

On 26 August 2016, Olympics 2016 bronze medallist Sakshi Malik was made brand ambassador for BBBP.[7]

The hashtag #SelfieWithDaughter was promoted on social media in June 2015, which started when Sunil Jaglan the sarpanch of the village Bibipur, Jind in Haryana took a selfie with his daughter Nandini and posted on Facebook on 9 June 2015.[8] The hashtag garnered worldwide fame.[9]

Reasons for this initiative[]

Further information: Female foeticide in India

Sex-selective abortion or female foeticide has led to a sharp drop in the ratio of girls born in contrast to boy infants in some states in India. Ultrasound technology that has made it possible for pregnant women and their families to learn the sex of a foetus early in a pregnancy. Discrimination against girl infants, for several reasons, has combined with the technology to result in a rise in abortions of foetuses identified as female during ultrasonic testing.

The trend was first noticed when results of the 1991 national census were released, and it was confirmed to be a worsening problem when results of the 2001 national census were released. The reduction in the female population of certain Indian states continues to worsen, as results of the 2011 national census have shown. It has been observed that the trend is most pronounced in relatively prosperous regions of India.[10] The dowry system in India is often blamed; the expectation that a large dowry must be provided for daughters in order for them to marry is frequently cited as a major cause for the problem.[citation needed] Pressure for parents to provide large dowries for their daughters is most intense in prosperous states where high standards of living, and modern consumerism, are more prevalent in Indian society.[citation needed]

Rates of female foeticide in Madhya Pradesh are increasing; the rate of live births was 932 girls per 1000 boys in 2001, which dropped to 918 by 2011. It is expected that if this trend continues, by 2021 the number of girls will drop below 900 per 1000 boys.[11]

Strategies used[]

Strategies employed to successfully carry out the scheme are:

  • Implement a sustained social mobilization and communication campaign to create equal value for the girl child and promote her education.
  • Place the issue of decline in child sex ratio/sex ratio at birth in public discourse, improvement of which would be an indicator for good governance.
  • Focus on gender critical districts and cities.

Support[]

The Govt of India has formed a National Executive Committee to promote Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) across the country. The committee is organising a number of programs to promote "Save Girl Child" and "to Educate Girl Child" since January 2015. Dr. Rajendra Phadke is the National Convener of BBBP Abhiyan.[citation needed]

The Beti Bachao campaign is also supported by the Indian Medical Association.[12]

Effectiveness[]

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reported that the scheme failed to meet its objectives. As per the CAG data, the sex ratio has deteriorated in many districts of Haryana and Punjab. According to the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, only ₹5 crore of a total of ₹43 crores allotted for the scheme in the financial year 2016-2017 was properly used.[13]

As per the government data, more than 56% of funds were spent on publicity from 2014-15 to 2018-19. Less than 25% of the funds were released to districts and states, and the government did not release more than 19 percent of the funds. Minister of state Ministry of Women and Child Development, Virendra Kumar Khatik, claimed that the sex ratio in 53 out of 161 districts under the scheme declined between 2014–15 and 2016-17. According to experts, the scheme's minimal success is due to the government's inability to release funds efficiently and its disproportionate focus on publicity rather than making initiatives in the health and education sectors.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ K Sandeep Kumar, Rajeev Mullick (19 May 2017). "UP govt sounds alert over Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme fraud". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  3. ^ Press Trust of India (28 March 2017). "Haryana govt cautions people against frauds under Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao scheme". The Indian Express. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  4. ^ "PM Narendra Modi invites ideas on "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao"". DNA India. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  5. ^ "PM to Launch 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' Programme from Haryana". Newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  6. ^ "PM Narendra Modi to launch 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme from Haryana". The Economic Times. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Sakshi Malik to be brand ambassador of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign in Haryana". 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  8. ^ Mohan, Rohini (30 June 2015). "How PM Modi's Beti Bachao, Selfie Banao campaign became a rage to rewrite gender-skewed script in Haryana". The Economic Times. Economic Times. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  9. ^ Sanyal, Anindita (28 June 2015). "#SelfieWithDaughter Trends Worldwide After PM Modi's Mann kiyg Baat". NDTV. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  10. ^ Selections from regional press, V. p. 68.
  11. ^ Gupta, Suchandana (3 October 2011). "Skewed sex ratio: MP launches 'Beti Bachao Abhiyan'". Times of India. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  12. ^ "Indian Medical Association". Journal of the Indian Medical Association. Indian Medical Association. 105 (7–12): 711. 2007.
  13. ^ "Why the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme Has Failed on Several Counts". The Wire. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Truth Of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao': 56% Funds Spent On Publicity". BloombergQuint. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
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