Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme

As per SECC 2011, Child Sex Ratio (CSR) in India was 919 females per 1000 males. It declined from 927/1000 in 2001.

• BBBP scheme was launched in 2015 to arrest the declining CSR in India. Its objectives include -
  • Prevent gender biased sex selective elimination
  • Ensure survival & protection of the girl child
  • Ensure education of the girl child

BBBP has Two Major Components

I. Mass Communication Campaign: 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.

II. Multi-Sectoral Interventions in 100 Gender Critical Districts covering all States/UTs: Coordinated and convergent efforts are undertaken in close coordination with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 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. Multi-sectoral interventions includes:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

• The following action plan was envisaged to achieve the BBBP scheme objectives:
  • Promote early registration of pregnancy and institutional delivery,
  • Ensure panchayats display gudaa-guddi board with number of newborns boys and girls every month,
  • Hold panchayats responsible for child marriage and
  • Create parliamentary forum of MPs representing 100 districts low in CSR.
• Following issues are prevalent in its 3 years performance (till 2019)
  • Inefficient allocation and release of funds i.e. of the stated allocation 368 crores for 3 years, only 200 crore released in first 2 years rest released in final year.
  • Implementation challenges like inter-ministerial coordination, quarterly meetings not held and accountability tools improper.
  • Unbalanced expenditure pattern as 47% of expenditure for communication/awareness generation whereas only 5% for education needs.

Suggestions

• Increasing planned expenditure allocation for education and health related interventions alongwith timely disbursal of funds.
• District level task force must be headed by local female frontline worker instead of District Magistrate and also proper performance audit of the scheme must be carried out.
• Ensuring incentivization and participation of CSOs.
• Imparting skill training to ensure proper implementation.
• The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme was a long overdue intervention to ensure the basic survival of girls in a highly discriminatory environment and hence above measures should be adopted to ensure its success.