What is the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme? Why is it important in the Indian context? Briefly mention the expansion and the results of the scheme.
The Census (2011) data showed a significant declining trend in the Child Sex Ratio (CSR), calculated as number of girls for every 1000 boys between age group of 0-6 years, with an all-time low of 918 in 2011 from 976 in 1961. The decline in CSR has been unabated since 1961. This is an alarming indicator for women disempowerment. It reflects both pre-birth discrimination manifested through gender biased sex selection, and post birth discrimination against girls. The decline is widespread across the country and has expanded to rural as well as tribal areas. Alarmed by the sharp decline, the Government of India has introduced Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme to address the issue of decline in CSR in 100 gender critical districts. Coordinated & convergent efforts are needed to ensure survival, protection and education of the girl child. The Overall Goal of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao(BBBP) Scheme is to Celebrate the Girl Child & Enable her Education.
The objectives of the Scheme are as under:
Prevent gender biased sex selective elimination.
Ensure survival & protection of the girl child.
Ensure education of the girl child.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative has two major components:
Mass Communication Campaign on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: The campaign aims at ensuring girls are born, nurtured and educated without discrimination to become empowered citizens of this country. The Campaign interlinks National, State and District level interventions with community level action in 100 districts, bringing together different stakeholders for accelerated impact.
Multi-Sectoral interventions in 100 Gender Critical Districts covering all States/UTs: Coordinated & convergent efforts are undertaken in close coordination with MoHFW and MoHRD to ensure survival, protection and education of the girl child. The District Collectors/Deputy Commissioners (DCs) lead and coordinate actions of all departments for implementation of BBBP at the District level.
It is a joint initiative of Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development. The Sectoral interventions under the programme include the following:
Ministry of WCD: Promote registration of pregnancies in first trimester in Anganwadi Centres (AWCs); Undertake training of stakeholders; Community mobilization & sensitization; Involvement of gender champions; Reward & recognition of institutions & frontline workers.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: Monitor implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCP&DT) Act, 1994; Increased institutional deliveries; Registration of births; Strengthening PNDT Cells; Setting up Monitoring Committees
Ministry of Human Resource Development: Universal enrolment of girls; Decreased drop-out rate; Girl Child friendly standards in schools; Strict implementation of Right to Education (RTE); Construction of Functional Toilets for girls.
Expansion ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’:
Given the criticality of the issue, this initiative has been expanded to 61 additional districts across the 11 States/UTs. Since its inception in January 2015, this programme has resulted in hundreds of local level innovative initiatives to promote the girl child.
Installing digital Guddi Gudda Display Boards in offices and public places in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra;
a social assistance scheme titled Ladli Beti for new born girl child born on or after 01st April 2015 by Jammu and Kashmir;
cash reward of Rs. 1 lakh for whistle blowers informing about illegal sex selection announced by Haryana;
Ambassador of Girl Child (Chief Secretary) launched by Nagaland etc.
Results of BBBP:
Increasing trend in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) is visible in 58% of the BBBP districts;
69 districts have reported progress in the first trimester registration against the reported ANC registrations during the previous year;
status of institutional deliveries has improved in 80 districts against the total reported deliveries in comparison to the previous year.
