Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign was initially started by the Indian Government. It was a joint effort of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource development, and Ministry of Health and Family welfare. This scheme was launched in October 2015.

The objective of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme

  • Protection and survival of a girl child
  • Removing selective elimination that is gender-biased.

The scheme targets the following groups: 

Primary Groups: Pregnant Mothers, Newly married couples, young married couples, and lactating mothers.

Secondary: Nursing homes, Diagnostic Centres, Private hospitals, adolescents, and youth

Tertiary groups: Industry, the public, medical associations, media, voluntary organizations, religious leaders, frontline workers, women SGHs, PRIs, and officials.

What all schemes covered under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao? 

The popular schemes that have been introduced under the BBBP scheme are mentioned below: 

  • Dhanalakshmi scheme 
  • Kanyashree Prakalpa Yojana 
  • Ladli scheme 
  • Ladli Laxmi Yojana 
  • Balika Samridhi Yojana 
  • Sukanya Samridhi Yojana 

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Purpose

The BBBP scheme aims to prevent cases of sex-selective abortion.  Apart from that with the scheme, the government ensures the empowerment, protection, and survival of the girl child. The scheme, therefore, aims at multi-sectoral action to not only arrest but also reverse the declining CSR in 100 districts. 

The scheme is aimed at achieving the following objectives:

  • Change in the mindset of parents of bringing up a girl child as ‘Paraya Dhan’!
  • Retention of girls in schools
  • Challenge gender stereotypes and promote equality between boys and girls.
  • Stop child marriage and dowry.
  • Provide a safe environment for girls.
  • Advocate higher education and simple weddings!
  • Support girls’ right to inherit property.
  • Celebrate the girl child!

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign across 100 Districts

At present, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign is active in almost 100 districts across the country which have low CSR. One district is each state in India and has been identified in Census 2011 based on the following criteria:

  • Above national average but increasing CSR (5 states)
  • Above national average but declining CSR (8 districts)
  • Below national average
  • Budget allocation and administration for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign

The Government invested almost Rs 100 Crore in Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign under ‘Care and Protection of Girl Child- A Multi-Sectoral Action Plan’. However, the scheme is estimated to cost around Rs 200 Crore. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is responsible for setting the budget of the scheme and transferring the allotted funds to the state. Additional funds are set to be mobilized with assistance from several state governments in addition to corporate social responsibility programs.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development heads a national task force that administers Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme, while the chief secretary, the head of the state task force monitors the progress of the scheme across the state. Likewise, collectors will lead various officials in the district to ensure proper implementation of the scheme. District collectors have to document several CSR-related indicators.

Know the impact of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme

The impact of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme will be evaluated at the end of the 12th five-year plan to pave the way for taking corrective measures, if any. The said scheme will be assessed on several parameters such as ultrasonography machines, the ratio of male & female children, and complaints made under the PNDT act, among others.

Measures were taken by the Government for the implementation of the Beti Padhao Beti Bachao Scheme:

  • Ensure implementation of wide-reaching and targeted social mobilization campaign for paving the way for equal respect for the girl child in all respects including education.
  • Creating healthy debates and public discourse on the issue of declining CSR and stress its improvement through social media across the country.
  • Specific focus on select ‘gender critical’ districts that have low CSR and therefore, need an integrated approach besides intensive and coordinated efforts to achieve the desired results.
  • The scheme aims to train both Panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies to work in the right direction to engineer positive social change in tandem with its stated objectives.
  • Ensure seamless multi-sectoral convergence at the district/block level for proper implementation of the scheme.