Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was started on January 22, 2015 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development under coordinated and convergent efforts to empower the girl child. First, it was initiated in 100 districts with low girl child sex ratio. Based on the child sex ratio, 100 districts were selected as pilot districts along with at least one district in each of the states/union territories covered by the 2011 census. In Haryana, Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik was made the brand ambassador for ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme in August 2016.
BBBP scheme is true to its words. The scheme intends to improve the efficiency of services for the welfare of women and to raise awareness regarding women’s rights.
Under this scheme, the government focuses on low female sex ratio in different areas in nearly 100 districts. When women are educated and aware, it leads to empowerment of women.
Main Objective of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme :-
The aim of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme is to arrest the decline in girl child sex ratio and promote women’s empowerment in order to improve the women status in the country.
It is a tri-ministerial effort of the following ministries:
- Women and Child Development
- Health and Family Welfare
- Human Resource Development
As per the 2001 census of India, the sex ratio of children aged 0-6 was 927 girls per 1000 boys which was reduced to only 918 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011. According to UNICEF statistics, India was ranked 41 among 195 countries in this regard in 2012.
The complete aim of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme is to celebrate the birth of a girl child to prevent the violation of the interests of girls as a result of outdated and conservative thoughts. This plan was launched for the following objectives for girls’ education and welfare.
To stop the discrimination of the girl child and practice of sex determination test:-
Today, the female sex ratio is decreasing on an alarming level in Asia. Our country is at the top of this declining ratio. Under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, mainly female and male sex ratio has been focused upon and major steps are being taken towards the prevention of gender discrimination.
To ensure the survival and protection of girls
In our country every day you can read the news in the newspapers that a female embryo, an unborn baby girl, was found dead in the dust-bin, wrapped in newspapers or near the railway station, etc. What is happening in our country? This shows somewhere some sick mindset prevails in our society. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme is a huge step in the direction of stopping this practice and ensuring the existence and safety of every child.
Steps by the Ministry of Women and Child Development:-
- To promote the registration of pregnancies in the first trimester in Anganwadi centres;
- Undertake training of new women entrepreneurs;
- Community mobilization and sensitization;
- The participation of gender support;
- Award and recognition of front-running workers and institutions.
