Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme (BBBP) on January 22, 2025. It marks a decade of relentless efforts toward the protection, education, and empowerment of girls in India.

Introduction of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)

The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched on January 22, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana. 

• This is a collaborative initiative of the Government of India involving some other Ministries. 
• The scheme was first implemented as a pilot project in 100 districts with low Child Sex Ratios (CSR) across the country, based on data from the 2011 Census.
• BBBP was launched to address the declining child sex ratio and promote the protection, survival, and education of girl children. 
• The initiative combines advocacy campaigns with targeted interventions at the grassroots level.
• The BBBP (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao) scheme has now been integrated with Mission Shakti for implementation during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-2022 to 2025-2026.

Need for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Initiative 

• Declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR): One of the most pressing concerns that led to the launch of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was the sharp decline in the Child Sex Ratio (CSR).
  • According to the 2011 Census, the CSR fell to 918 girls per 1,000 boys, a notable drop from 927 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001.
  • This decline reflected deep-rooted societal issues, including gender-based discrimination, female foeticide, and neglect of girl children.
• Global Comparison: A UNICEF survey in 2012 ranked India 41st out of 195 countries in terms of CSR. This showcased the severity of the problem at an international level. The data underscored India’s struggle with gender equality.
• Cultural and Societal Factors: A strong cultural preference for sons was identified as a primary reason behind the gender imbalance.
  • Discriminatory practices such as gender-selective abortions were prevalent.
  • After birth, neglect of girl children in areas such as nutrition, healthcare, and education further exacerbated the issue.

To address these critical issues, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme was introduced as a multi-ministerial initiative. 

Objectives of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)

• Eliminating Gender-Biased Practices: The scheme aims to prevent gender-selective practices, such as sex determination tests and female foeticide, which contribute to the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR). It strives to raise awareness about the importance of girl children and eliminate deep-rooted gender discrimination.
• Ensuring the Survival and Safety of Girls: A key focus is on protecting the existence of girls and ensuring their safety from physical, emotional, and societal harm. The scheme emphasizes equipping girls with knowledge about their rights and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong.
• Promoting Education for Girls: BBBP prioritizes the education of girls by encouraging their enrollment and retention in schools. It seeks to reduce the dropout rates at secondary and higher secondary levels and ensure that girls have equal opportunities to succeed academically. Along with education, the scheme emphasizes increasing the participation of girls in various fields to ensure their overall development.
• Improving Healthcare for Girls: The scheme supports better maternal and child healthcare services to ensure the survival of girl children. It aims to achieve a 2-point annual improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and maintain a 95% or higher rate of institutional deliveries. Another objective is to increase first-trimester antenatal care (ANC) registration by 1% annually. The initiative focuses on raising awareness about safe menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls.

Key Features & Implementation Structure of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme

• Governing Bodies: The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme is a collaborative initiative. 3 Ministries work in coordination to implement the scheme’s objectives effectively across the nation.
  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) holds the responsibility for budgetary control and administration of the BBBP scheme. 
  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) is entrusted with the critical responsibility of capacity building and quality control. 
  • The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MoHRD) is instrumental in developing the educational components of the scheme.
• Financial and Operational Structure: BBBP is a centrally-sponsored scheme under the Mission Shakti umbrella, fully funded by the central government. Financial assistance is allocated to districts based on their Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB):
  • Districts with SRB ≤ 918: ₹40 lakhs per year.
  • Districts with SRB between 919–952: ₹30 lakhs per year.
  • Districts with SRB > 952: ₹20 lakhs per year.
  • The scheme initially launched in 100 districts in 2014-15 and expanded to 640 districts in India by 2018. Districts with low CSR (below the national average as per the 2011 Census) were prioritized in this scheme.
• Implementation Structure: The scheme operates through a structured network of committees and task forces:
  • State Task Force (STF): These task forces are headed by the Chief Secretary, this task force ensures coordination and smooth implementation of the scheme at the state level.
  • District Task Force (DTF): These task forces are chaired by the District Collector or Deputy Commissioner, the DTF oversees all activities at the district level, monitors progress, and ensures proper fund utilization.

  • Block-Level Committees: These committees support the execution of campaigns, interventions, and reviews at the grassroots level.

  • Target Groups: BBBP is designed with a multi-tiered focus to address both immediate and long-term societal needs:

• Primary Target Groups
  • Young and Married Couples: Newlyweds and couples expecting children are sensitized to the importance of having daughters and rejecting gender biases.
  • Adolescents (Girls and Boys): Programs are targeted at adolescents to foster gender sensitivity and empower them as future change-makers.
  • Youth: Awareness campaigns focus on youth to ensure they embrace gender equality and support girl child welfare.
  • Households and Communities: Families and community members are involved in changing mindsets and attitudes toward girls.
• Secondary Target Groups
  • Schools and Anganwadi Centers (AWCs): Educational institutions and child development centers play a vital role in reaching girls and their families.
  • Healthcare Providers: Medical professionals, private hospitals, diagnostic centers, and nursing homes are critical in preventing gender-biased practices like sex determination.
  • Local Governance Bodies: Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) actively support local implementation.

Achievements of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme

The success of the BBBP scheme is evident in the significant progress made toward reducing gender inequality, as reflected in the following achievements:

• Improvement in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): The SRB improved from 918 girls per 1,000 boys in 2014-15 to 933 in 2022-23 (Source: HMIS, MoHFW). This consistent increase demonstrates the collective impact of BBBP in raising awareness about gender-biased practices.
• Increase in Girls’ Enrollment in Secondary Education: The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for girls in secondary education increased from 75.51% in 2014-15 to 79.4% in 2021-22 (Source: U-DISE Plus, MoE), reflecting the scheme’s positive effect on education.
• Increase in Institutional Deliveries: Institutional deliveries rose from 87% in 2014-15 to 94% in 2019-20, this ensuring safer deliveries and reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
• Awareness Campaigns: Targeted campaigns like ‘Selfie with Daughter’ gained nationwide popularity to celebrate the birth of daughters through events like ‘Beti Janmotsav’.
• Women’s Skill and Economic Empowerment: With the Ministry of Skill Development, BBBP promoted skill development and economic participation of young girls and women. Programs like ‘Khelo India’ also helped identify and nurture sports talent among girls.

Benefits of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme

• Empowerment of Women and Girls: The scheme has contributed significantly to the empowerment of women and girls, providing them with better opportunities for education, healthcare, and personal development. It aims to break societal barriers to allow girls to lead empowered lives with access to equal opportunities. This has helped increase the enrollment rates of girls in schools, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas.
• Strengthened Legal and Social Framework: The scheme has helped in strengthening the legal and social framework aimed at protecting girls from gender-based violence, discrimination, and exploitation. It emphasizes gender equality and works to reduce harmful traditional practices like female foeticide and child marriage.
• Multi-Sectoral Interventions and Collaboration: The scheme has promoted multi-sectoral interventions to bring together various ministries and stakeholders to tackle issues related to girls’ welfare. 
• Financial Incentives (Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana): As part of BBBP, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana offers financial incentives to parents to build a fund for their girl child. This fund can only be accessed when the girl turns 18 to ensure that the money is used for her education or welfare.

Challenges and Limitations of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) 

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme has faced several challenges that have hindered its full potential:

• Under-utilization of Resources: One of the most critical issues has been the under-utilization of funds allocated for the scheme. Audit reports revealed that only 23.48% of the funds (₹155 crores) were effectively utilized by state governments, even though the total budget was ₹848 crores. This misuse of funds has been a significant obstacle to the scheme’s success.
• Poor Fund Utilization: The scheme has faced criticism for focusing too much on advertising and advocacy instead of directly addressing the health and education needs of girl children, as initially promised. The Committee on Women’s Empowerment has raised concerns about the lack of appropriate fund allocation for the intended sectors. Regional disparities in resources, infrastructure, and social attitudes towards girls have affected the scheme’s success in certain areas.
• Challenges in Addressing the Gender Gap in Education: Although the scheme aims to improve education for girls, it has struggled with erratic attendance and high dropout rates in schools. This remains a major challenge in the education sector, affecting the progress of the initiative.
• Inadequate Infrastructure in Schools: The provision of clean, functional toilets for girls in schools has been a significant barrier, as many schools still lack adequate sanitation facilities for girls. This hampers their participation and attendance in schools.
• Deep-rooted Societal Biases: Despite the efforts of the BBBP, societal biases related to gender discrimination, son preference, and gender-based violence continue to persist in many regions. These biases undermine the goals of the scheme.

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