Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme

Ministry of Women and Child Development

Background

The Census (2011) data showed a significant declining trend in the Child Sex Ratio1(CSR) between 0-6 years with an all time low of 918. The issue of decline in the CSR is a major indicator of women disempowerment as it reflects both, pre-birth discrimination manifested through gender biased sex selection, and post birth discrimination against girls (in form of their health, nutrition, educational needs). The principal factor behind the Child Sex Ratio being so adverse is the low Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB). Social construct discriminating girls on the one hand, easy availability, affordability and subsequent misuse of diagnostic tools on the other hand, have been critical in declining CSR. The strong socio-cultural and religious biases, preference for sons and discrimination towards daughters has accentuated the problem. .

Since coordinated and convergent efforts are needed to ensure survival, protection and empowerment of the girl child, Government launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) on 22^nd January, 2015 at Panipat in Haryana. It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development.

Objectives

The objectives of the Scheme are as under:

• To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination
• To ensure survival and protection of the girl child
• To ensure education and participation of the girl child

Coverage

First Phase

The 100 districts (45.9KB) have been identified on the basis of low Child Sex Ratio as per Census 2011 covering all States/UTs as a pilot with at least one district in each state. The three criteria for selection of districts are:-

• Districts below the national average (87 districts/23 states);
• Districts above national average but shown declining trend (8 districts/8 states)
• Districts above national average and shown increasing trend (5 districts/5 states- selected so that these CSR levels can be maintained and other districts can emulate and learn from their experiences).

Second Phase

The scheme has further been expanded to 61 additional districts selected from 11 States/UT having CSR below 918. To get the list of additional districts covered, click here (70.4KB).

Pan India Expansion of BBBP

The Pan India Expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) covering all 640 districts (as per census 2011) of the country was launched on 8th March 2018.

Target Group

1. Primary : Young and newly married couples; Pregnant and Lactating mothers; parents
2. Secondary : Youth, adolescents (girls and boys), in-laws, medical doctors/ practitioners, private hospitals, nursing homes and diagnostic centres
3. Tertiary: Officials, PRIs; frontline workers, women SHGs/Collectives, religious leaders, voluntary organizations, media, medical associations, industry associations, general public as a whole.

Strategies

• Implement a sustained Social Mobilization and Communication Campaign to create equal value for the girl child & promote her education.
• Place the issue of decline in CSR/SRB in public discourse, improvement of which would be a indicator for good governance.
• Focus on Gender Critical Districts and Cities low on CSR for intensive & integrated action.
• Adopt Innovative Interventions/Actions by the districts as per their local needs, context and sensibilities.
• Mobilize & Train Panchayati Raj Institutions/Urban local bodies/ Grassroot workers as catalysts for social change, in partnership with local community/women’s/youth groups.
• Engage with Communities to challenge gender stereotypes and social norms.
• Ensure service delivery structures/schemes & programmes are sufficiently responsive to issues of gender and children’s rights.
• Enable Inter-sectoral and inter-institutional convergence at District/Block/Grassroot levels.

Components:

Advocacy and Media Campaign on Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao

Under the Scheme, a Nation-wide campaign was launched for celebrating Girl Child and enabling her education. The campaign aims at ensuring that girls are born, nurtured and educated without discrimination to become empowered citizens of this country with equal rights. A 360° media approach is being adopted to create awareness and disseminating information about the issue across the nation.

Multi-Sectoral intervention in selected Gender Critical Districts worse on CSR

Under the Scheme, the multi-sectoral action in selected 405 districts (including existing 161 districts) covering all States/UTs will focus on schematic intervention and sectoral actions in consultation with M/o H&FW & M/o HRD. Measurable outcomes and indicators will bring together concerned sectors, States and districts for urgent concerted multi-sectoral action to improve the CSR.

Monitorable Targets:

• Improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in selected gender critical districts by 2 points in a year.
• Reduce Gender differentials in Under Five Child Mortality Rate from 7 points in 2014(latest available SRS report) to 1.5 points per year
• At least 1.5 % increase per year of Institutional Deliveries.
• At least 1% increase per year of 1st Trimester ANC Registration. v)Increase enrolment of girls in secondary education to 82% by 2018-19.
• Provide functional toilet for girls in every school in selected districts.
• Improve the Nutrition status of girls – by reducing number of underweight and anemic girls under 5 years of age.
• Ensure universalization of ICDS, girls’ attendance and equal care monitored, using joint ICDS NHM Mother Child Protection Cards.
• Promote a protective environment for Girl Children through implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012.
• Train Elected Representatives/ Grassroot functionaries as Community Champions to mobilize communities to improve CSR and promote Girl’s education.

Project Implementation

The Ministry of Women and Child Development would be responsible for budgetary control and administration of the scheme from the Centre. At the State level, the Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development will be responsible for overall direction and implementation of the scheme.  DPO at district level will be nodal officer for the implementation of the Scheme. The scheme will be implemented through ICDS platform/MSK/DLCW at district, block and village level in convergence with Health, Education and Panchayati Raj Ministry.

Social Media

A YouTube channel on BBBP has been launched for all to access relevant videos on the issue of declining child sex ratio. Videos are being uploaded continuously and shared through this platform for generating awareness and for easy access and dissemination. To watch videos please click on Image

Further, to engage with the nation, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Group has been launched on MyGov platform in order to seek active participation, engagement and whole hearted support in making this initiative of the Government a grand success.

Reasons for this initiative

• Sex-selective abortion or female foeticide has l
• ed to a sharp drop in the ratio of girls born in contrast to boy infants in some states in India. Ultrasound technology that has made it possible for pregnant women and their families to learn the sex of a foetus early in a pregnancy.
• Discrimination against girl infants, for several reasons, has combined with the technology to result in a rise in abortions of foetuses identified as female during ultrasonic testing.
• The trend was first noticed when results of the 1991 national census were released, and it was confirmed to be a worsening problem when results of the 2001 national census were released.
• The reduction in the female population of certain Indian states continues to worsen, as results of the 2011 national census have shown.
•  The dowry system in India is often blamed; the expectation that a large dowry must be provided for daughters in order for them to marry is frequently cited as a major cause for the problem.
•  Rates of female foeticide in Madhya Pradesh are increasing; the rate of live births was 932 girls per 1000 boys in 2001, which dropped to 918 by 2011.
• It is expected that if this trend continues, by 2021 the number of girls will drop below 900 per 1000 boys^.[12]

Performance of BBBP Scheme:

• Sex Ratio at Birth:
  • Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) has improved by 16 points from 918 (2014-15) to 934 (2019-20), as per the Health Management Information System (HMIS) data.
  • Out of 640 districts covered under BBBP, 422 districts have shown improvement in SRB from 2014-15 to 2018-2019.
  • Notable Examples:
    • Mau (Uttar Pradesh) from 694 (2014-15) to 951 (2019-20),
    • Karnal (Haryana) from 758 (2014-15) to 898 (2019-20),
    • Mahendergarh (Haryana) from 791 (2014-15) to 919 (2019-20), etc.
  • Health:
    • ANC Registration: Percentage of 1^st Trimester ANC (AnteNatal Care) Registration has shown an improving trend from 61% in 2014-15 to 71% in 2019-20.
    • Institutional Deliveries: Percentage of Institutional Deliveries has shown an improving trend from 87% in 2014-15 to 94% in 2019-20.

• Education :
  • Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): GER of girls in the schools at secondary level has improved from 77.45 (2014-15) to 81.32 (2018-19) as per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) provisional data.
  • Toilet for girls: Percentage of schools with functional separate toilets for girls has shown improvement from 92.1% in 2014-15 to 95.1% in 2018-19.
  • Attitudinal Change:
    • The BBBP scheme has been able to bring the focus on important issue of female infanticide, lack of education amongst girls and deprivation of their rights on a life cycle continuum.
    • BetiJanmotsav is one of the key programmes celebrated in each district.

• Other Initiatives for Girl Children:
  • UJJAWALA: To tackle the problem of trafficking, it is a Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-Integration of Victims of Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
  • Kishore Health Card: To record the information about the weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI) of Adolescent Girls (AGs). These health cards for AGs are maintained at the AnganWadi centres (AWCs).
  • Schme for Adolescent Girls (SAG).
  • Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, etc.