(Source: PIB)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in launching the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative on January 22, 2015, marked a significant step in the fight for gender equality in India. This program focuses on safeguarding the girl child, promoting her education, and addressing the societal issue of a skewed Child Sex Ratio. By tackling gender-biased practices and advocating for the value of daughters, the scheme has had a profound effect on shifting societal perceptions. Through its combined efforts in health, education, and awareness, BBBP has contributed to empowering young girls, allowing them to play an active role in the nation’s growth and development. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, this initiative highlights India’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive, equitable society for women.
Integration with Mission Shakti: Strengthening the BBBP Initiative
In an effort to streamline women’s empowerment programs, the BBBP scheme has been integrated into the comprehensive Mission Shakti. This umbrella program for women’s safety and empowerment has been implemented as part of the 15th Finance Commission period (2021-2026) and encompasses two key sub-schemes: Sambal and Samarthya. By integrating BBBP with Mission Shakti, the government aims to provide a holistic approach to addressing women’s needs, from safety and security to long-term empowerment. This integration amplifies the impact of the BBBP initiative, enabling a broader reach and more robust support for women and girls nationwide.
Sambal: A Shield of Safety and Security
Under the Sambal sub-scheme, Mission Shakti prioritises the safety and security of women through comprehensive mechanisms like One Stop Centres (OSCs), the Women Helpline (181), and the expansion of BBBP nationwide. These OSCs act as critical support systems, offering integrated services such as legal aid, psychological counselling, and shelter to distressed women. Additionally, Nari Adalats, or Women’s Courts, have been introduced to provide an alternate grievance redressal system for resolving minor issues such as harassment and rights violations. This innovative approach ensures that justice is accessible, affordable, and responsive to the needs of women at the grassroots level.
Samarthya: A Catalyst for Empowerment
The Samarthya sub-scheme under Mission Shakti focuses on empowering women through initiatives designed to enhance their economic and social well-being. Programs like Shakti Sadans and Sakhi Niwas provide secure housing solutions for working women in urban areas, while the Palna-Creche system ensures safe and nurturing environments for children of working mothers. Integrating the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) under Samarthya marks another significant milestone. By extending financial support to the second child, provided it is a girl, the scheme incentivises maternal health while challenging societal preferences for male children. Moreover, the compensation for wage loss during pregnancy and childbirth underlines the government’s focus on recognising and addressing working mothers’ challenges.
Transformative Impact on Society
The integration of BBBP with Mission Shakti reflects the government’s commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment for women and girls. These initiatives collectively aim to dismantle the deeply entrenched social biases that have historically marginalised women, ensuring that every girl child receives the dignity, opportunities, and respect she deserves. As these programs continue to expand and evolve, they reaffirm the vision of a gender-equitable society, paving the way for a brighter and more inclusive future.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme has evolved significantly over the years, adopting a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach that integrates the efforts of various sectors such as health, education, child development, and community awareness. This holistic approach aims to tackle the deeply rooted issues of gender inequality and discrimination against girls in Indian society. Over the past decade, the scheme has broadened its scope through collaborations among multiple ministries, ensuring that its objectives are addressed in a unified and effective manner.
The scheme’s primary objectives are ambitious yet crucial, focusing on key aspects like preventing gender-biased sex-selective elimination, ensuring the survival and protection of the girl child, and promoting her education and active participation in society. It also aims to improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) by two points annually, sustain institutional delivery rates at 95 per cent or above, and achieve a 1 per cent annual increase in first-trimester anti-natal care (ANC) registration. Additionally, the scheme seeks to reduce dropout rates among girls at secondary and higher secondary levels while raising awareness about safe Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) practices.
To ensure maximum impact, BBBP identifies specific focus areas and target groups. Among its primary target groups are young and newly married couples, expecting parents, adolescents, and youth to influence their attitudes and behaviours toward gender equality. The secondary target groups include various stakeholders, such as schools, Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), healthcare professionals, private hospitals, and diagnostic centres. Other critical contributors include Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), frontline workers, self-help groups, women collectives, civil society organisations, media, religious leaders, and industry experts. These groups are pivotal in amplifying the scheme’s reach and ensuring sustainability.
By addressing social and institutional dimensions, the BBBP scheme strives to foster a more equitable and inclusive society where every girl child is valued, educated, and empowered to lead a life of dignity and opportunity.
Financial and Operational Structure
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme is a centrally sponsored initiative operating under the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti, receiving 100% funding from the Central Government. It aims to address gender disparities by targeting districts with varied Sex Ratios at Birth (SRB). Financial assistance under BBBP is allocated according to district SRB levels. Districts with an SRB of 918 or less receive Rs. 40 lakh annually, while those with SRBs between 919 and 952 are allocated Rs. 30 lakh annually. Districts with SRBs greater than 952 are granted Rs. 20 lakh annually. This structured financial model ensures equitable distribution of resources, prioritising districts that face the most significant gender imbalances. The scheme’s operational framework demonstrates a well-coordinated approach to achieving gender parity and improving social outcomes.
Key Developments
The BBBP scheme has achieved significant milestones, including improvements in the Sex Ratio at Birth, increased educational access, enhanced healthcare services, and women’s economic empowerment initiatives. BBBP has built a strong foundation for valuing and protecting every girl child by collaborating with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities. As the scheme enters its second decade, the focus shifts to long-term changes through inclusive policies, better implementation, and active community participation. These steps aim to sustain progress toward gender equality and holistic empowerment for girls nationwide.
Improvement in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB)
One of the primary achievements of BBBP has been the improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth. In 2014-15, the national SRB stood at 918, reflecting the prevalence of gender-biased practices nationwide. By 2022-23, this figure rose to 933, showcasing a steady and meaningful increase (as per HMIS data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare). This improvement highlights the collective efforts of BBBP in raising awareness about the detrimental effects of gender discrimination, enabling gradual but sustained changes in societal attitudes toward the girl child.
Increase in Girls’ Enrollment in Secondary Education
BBBP has significantly contributed to promoting girls’ education, as evident in the rise of the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for girls in secondary education. From 75.51 per cent in 2014-15, GER increased to 79.4 per cent by 2021-22 (as per U-DISE Plus data from the Ministry of Education). The scheme’s educational interventions, including advocacy for girls’ rights to education and awareness campaigns about its importance, have played a vital role in bridging the gender gap in schooling. The scheme is laying a foundation for greater social and economic equity by empowering girls through education.
Increased Institutional Deliveries
BBBP has also made strides in improving healthcare access for women, emphasising safer childbirth practices. Institutional deliveries increased from 87% in 2014-15 to over 94% by 2019-20. This improvement has been pivotal in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, as institutional care ensures better medical attention and support during childbirth. This achievement underscores the scheme’s focus on fostering a healthier environment for women and children, especially in rural and underprivileged areas.
Skilling and Economic Empowerment of Women
BBBP has also prioritised the skilling and economic empowerment of young girls and women in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The scheme has introduced vocational training programs tailored to enhance girls’ employability and economic independence. Special initiatives have been launched for girls from minority communities to promote higher education and skill development. Furthermore, programs like ‘Khelo India’ have been instrumental in identifying and nurturing sporting talent among girls, providing them with platforms to excel and achieve their aspirations. These efforts underline BBBP’s holistic approach to empowering girls and fostering their active participation in nation-building.
The BBBP scheme has significantly contributed to improving girls’ lives in India. It has enhanced the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), increased educational opportunities, improved access to healthcare, and supported economic empowerment for women. Collaborating with government bodies, NGOs, and local communities, the scheme has laid a strong foundation for valuing and protecting every girl child. As the initiative enters its second decade, the focus shifts toward implementing inclusive policies, improving execution, and ensuring active community participation. These efforts will help sustain progress toward achieving gender equality and empowering girls for a brighter future.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme has significantly impacted societal attitudes, fostering a collective consciousness toward valuing the rights and well-being of the girl child. It has successfully raised awareness and sensitised the public to the importance of addressing gender disparities and advocating for equal opportunities. The scheme’s advocacy has brought attention to critical issues such as the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) in India and has firmly established its relevance in public discourse.
Multi-Sectoral Interventions
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme emphasises multi-sectoral interventions to empower girls and address their needs comprehensively. Key initiatives include promoting sports among girls, organising self-defence camps, and improving sanitation by constructing girls’ toilets. Providing sanitary napkin vending machines and pads, particularly in educational institutions, has enhanced menstrual hygiene and reduced stigma. Awareness campaigns on the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act are also central to preventing female feticide and ensuring gender equality. These efforts collectively contribute to creating a safe and supportive environment for girls.
Campaign and Community engagement
The BBBP (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao) initiative has effectively launched impactful campaigns to challenge and change societal views on gender equality. Programs like ‘Selfie with Daughters’ have encouraged fathers to proudly celebrate their daughters, while events like ‘Beti Janmotsav’ have promoted the celebration of girl children’s births, highlighting their importance in society. These efforts have played a pivotal role in breaking traditional stereotypes and nurturing an inclusive culture.
Additionally, community engagement remains central to the BBBP initiative, with National Girl Child Day (NGCD) on January 24 featuring workshops, creative contests, and awareness drives to raise gender equality consciousness. One prominent initiative, the “Yashaswini” bike expedition, saw 150 women bikers from CRPF travel nationwide, symbolising empowerment and inspiring the public. Other programs focusing on menstrual hygiene and gender awareness, including distributing hygiene kits and hosting educational workshops, ensure a well-rounded approach to supporting girls and strengthening community bonds.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative has played a transformative role in advancing gender equality in India. Over the past decade, it has successfully addressed critical issues such as gender-biased practices, the declining Sex Ratio at Birth, and the promotion of girls’ education and empowerment. Integrating the BBBP scheme with Mission Shakti has provided a more comprehensive and holistic approach to women’s safety, security, and long-term empowerment. With significant improvements in education, healthcare, and community engagement, BBBP has created a ripple effect, influencing societal attitudes and fostering an environment where every girl child is valued and empowered. As the initiative enters its second decade, it continues to pave the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous future for women and girls in India.
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