Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) — "Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter" — is a flagship central government scheme launched on 22 January 2015 at Panipat, Haryana. It addresses the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and empowers girls through education and protection. The scheme represents a convergence of three ministries: Women and Child Development (WCD), Health and Family Welfare (HFW), and Education.
Background and Rationale
The Problem: Declining Child Sex Ratio
India's CSR (girls per 1,000 boys aged 0-6) declined from 976 (1961) to 918 (2011) — an alarming drop
Male child bias in schemes: No scheme addresses the root cause — why sons are preferred (property, inheritance, old age security)
Way Forward
Deepen convergence: Joint accountability of District Magistrates for CSR
Focus on retention: Incentivize completion of secondary and higher secondary
Community engagement: Involve fathers, brothers, and community elders in campaign
Economic empowerment: Livelihood skilling for adolescent girls
Legal reforms: Stricter PCPNDT enforcement, fast-track courts for sex-selective abortion
Property rights: Ensure equal inheritance for daughters (despite Hindu Succession Act 2005, implementation is weak)
Male engagement: Men as champions of gender equality (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao — bhaiyon ka bhi sahyog)
Conclusion
BBBP has successfully brought the issue of declining CSR into the national spotlight and created a framework for action. While CSR has shown modest improvement, the real success lies in increased awareness, improved gender metrics in education and health, and the institutional convergence mechanism. The challenge now is to move from awareness to sustained behavior change — a process that requires generations. BBBP is not a scheme with an expiry date; it is a social movement that must become self-sustaining.
Practice Questions
Critically evaluate the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme. Has it succeeded in reversing the declining Child Sex Ratio?
Discuss the multi-sectoral convergence model of BBBP. What challenges does it face in implementation?
"BBBP addresses symptoms, not root causes of gender discrimination." Do you agree?