Earlier this year, the Government of India launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana with a view to create a conducive environment for the welfare of women. It targets the clusters of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi and Haryana.
Goals of the scheme
‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save daughters, educate daughters) is India’s flagship campaign to uplift the status of girls in the country. Its goals include preventing gender discrimination, eliminating female infanticide, promoting girl education and empowering women. The campaign is being run by the government of India.
‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 January 2015 from Panipat, Haryana. The scheme is a tri-ministerial initiative and has been implemented through multi-sector action in nearly 100 districts. The programme aims to make girls’ lives safer and better through proper education and skilling. It also aims to reduce the sex ratio in India.
The government launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme after the national census results showed a decline in key gender metrics. The census revealed that the Child Sex Ratio (CSR) in India was calculated as the number of girls for every thousand boys aged 0-6 years. This is a significant indicator of gender discrimination.
Performance of the scheme
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana, as it is popularly called, is one of the most important government schemes. The scheme is targeted at empowering girls through education, health and family welfare. Its main objectives are to prevent gender-biased sex selective elimination and to ensure girl child’s education. The scheme is also intended to empower girls through skilling in non-traditional livelihoods. It has been launched by the Government of India as a tri-ministerial effort.
During the initial phase of the scheme, the focus was on the 100 districts. However, it has now been extended to all districts in the country. In order to ensure its success, the government is planning to conduct a district-level survey. This will allow the government to identify implementation roadblocks and advance the program.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015. It is aimed at enhancing welfare services for girls, including improving sex ratio image and improving child sex ratio.
It also aims to increase the enrolment of girls in secondary education. The scheme does not provide individual cash transfers to girls.
Issues with the scheme
Despite the government’s ambitious Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme aiming to improve sex ratio at birth, the scheme has not achieved its intended goals. The scheme failed due to failures in monitoring and policy implementation.
The Central Government, through its flagship initiative, has made efforts to skill girls in non-traditional livelihoods and increase their enrollment in secondary education. It has also raised awareness about menstrual hygiene and promulgating the end of child marriage.
Despite the ambitious scheme, implementation is hampered by three clear lacunae. The dowry system is one of the biggest obstacles to the scheme’s implementation. Besides the dowry system, orthodox rituals and social abuses also hinder the implementation of the scheme.
The scheme is also being targeted at removing female foeticide. It will also help fund education for girl child. However, it is not a direct benefit transfer scheme. The funds are largely spent on media campaigns. The Government spends 80% of its funds on these campaigns.
Sukanya Samriddhi scheme
SSY scheme for Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao is a saving scheme which was introduced by the Government of India to help parents save for their girl child’s marriage. It provides a fixed income investment and is a great tax saving tool. There are two types of SSY accounts – one is launched by the parents or guardians of the girl child, and the other one is launched by the Government.
Under the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, the amount deposited by the parent is paid to the girl child in whose name the account is opened. The money deposited can be used for education, marriage, and entrepreneurial dreams of the daughter. Its interest is also tax free. The capital is compounded on a yearly basis.
To open a Sukanya Samriddhi account, a guardian or parent has to fill a form. He or she has to submit the details of the girl child such as birth certificate and address proof. He or she has to pay a minimum deposit of Rs. 250 every year.
The scheme has been successful in raising awareness about the importance of girl child education and protection. It has also resulted in an increase in the enrolment of girls in schools and better health care for girls.
The scheme is being implemented across the country in a phased manner. The first phase of the scheme was launched in selected districts in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Bihar, Gujarat and Delhi. The second phase will be expanded to cover all districts in India. Get full details about our website.
