The UPA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consistently prioritized the emancipation, safety, and promotion of women. An exemplary initiative in this regard is the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme, launched by the Prime Minister in 2015 in Haryana. This program seeks to bring about a societal shift in attitudes towards the birth and rights of girl children, leading to heightened awareness and sensitization regarding gender bias and the community’s role in eradicating it.
The essence of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, which translates to ‘Save the girl child, educate the girl child,’ is to educate the populace about gender bias and enhance the effectiveness of services aimed at the welfare of girls. Its launch involved an initial funding of Rs 100 crore (US$ 13.5 million) and is a collaborative effort among the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare, and Human Resource Development.
A significant accomplishment attributed to this scheme was highlighted by President Droupadi Murmu, who stated that, for the first time, women outnumber men in the country. She emphasized that the government has actively removed barriers for women in all fields of work, enabling their participation in various sectors, including mining and the military.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao program has yielded positive results over six years, with government data revealing improvements in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and increased enrollment of girls in secondary schools.
This scheme is a pivotal solution to address the overall status of women in society. It aims to mitigate the likelihood of girls dropping out of school, facing early pregnancies, and associated challenges. Education is key, as educated girls are less likely to experience underage pregnancies.
To enhance the scheme’s effectiveness further, specific targets should be considered:
1. Digitalization: Leveraging technology for monitoring and evaluation is vital. Media campaigns have raised awareness, but regular monitoring and progress reports are essential for shaping policies that improve the well-being and education of girls.
2. Increasing Female Teachers: Incentivizing educated females to become teachers can boost female enrollment in schools, foster gender parity in staff, and provide a more comfortable environment for female students.
3. Female Participation: Gender-sensitive schemes should involve representation at the community level. Local workers, such as ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and Mahila Mandals, should play a crucial role in scheme implementation.
4. Training for On-Ground Personnel: Personnel engaged in community outreach activities should undergo refresher training and capacity building. This includes gender sensitization and digital upskilling to enhance scheme implementation.
5. Provision of Clean Toilets: Ensuring clean and functional toilets in schools is crucial. The absence of adequate facilities has been a significant cause of female student dropouts, and rectifying this would improve enrollment rates.
