Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

The child sex ratio in India had been going down at an alarming rate. In the population census of 2011, the child sex ratio in India was 919 females of girls aged 0 to 6 years old.

During the 2014 International Day of the Girl Child, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the public to help end sexism against girls in India.{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pm-narendra-modi-invites-ideas-on-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-2025163|title=PM Narendra Modi invites ideas on "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao"|date=11 October 2014|work=DNA India|access-date=2016-06-12|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925000311/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pm-narendra-modi-invites-ideas-on-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-2025163|url-status=live}}

File: Beti Bachao Beti Pedhao.png

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched on 22 January 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/PM-to-Taunch-Beti-Bachao-Beti-Padhao-Programme-from-Haryana/2014/12/31/article2597270.ece|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141231173003/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/PM-to-Taunch-Beti-Bachao-Beti-Padhao-Programme-from-Haryana/2014/12/31/article2597270.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2014|title=PM to Launch 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' Programme from Haryana|website=Newindianexpress.com|access-date=2016-06-12}}{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-narendra-modi-to-launch-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-programme-from-haryana/articleshow/45707186.cms|title=PM Narendra Modi to launch 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' program from Haryana|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2016-06-12|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226042221/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-narendra-modi-to-launch-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-programme-from-haryana/articleshow/45707186.cms|url-status=live}} It aims to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio image (CSR) and is a national initiative jointly run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Education. It initially focused on multi-sector action in 100 districts throughout the country where there was a low CSR

On 26 August 2016, Olympics 2016 bronze medallist Sakshi Malik was made the brand ambassador for BBBP.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscafe.in/articles/wrestling/2016/aug/24/sakshi-malik-to-be-brand-ambassador-of-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-campaign-in-haryana|title=Sakshi Malik to be brand ambassador of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign in Haryana|date=2016-08-24|access-date=2016-08-24|archive-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920175633/https://sportscafe.in/articles/wrestling/2016/aug/24/sakshi-malik-to-be-brand-ambassador-of-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-campaign-in-haryana|url-status=live}}

The hashtag #SelfieWithDaughter was promoted on social media in June 2015, which started when Sunil Jaglan the Sarpanch of the village Bibipur, Jind in Haryana took a selfie with his daughter Nandini and posted on Facebook on 9 June 2015.{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-pm-modis-beti-bachao-selfie-banao-campaign-became-a-rage-to-rewrite-gender-skewed-script-in-haryana/articleshow/47873120.cms |title=How PM Modi's Beti Bachao, Selfie Banao campaign became a rage to rewrite gender-skewed script in Haryana |publisher=Economic Times |date=30 June 2015 |access-date=1 July 2015 |author=Mohan, Rohini |newspaper=The Economic Times |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701210549/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-pm-modis-beti-bachao-selfie-banao-campaign-became-a-rage-to-rewrite-gender-skewed-script-in-haryana/articleshow/47873120.cms |url-status=live }} The hashtag garnered worldwide fame.{{cite web |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/selfiewithdaughter-trends-worldwide-after-pm-modis-mann-ki-appeal-776114 |title=#SelfieWithDaughter Trends Worldwide After PM Modi's Mann kiyg Baat |author=Sanyal, Anindita |publisher=NDTV |date=28 June 2015 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-date=30 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630220729/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/selfiewithdaughter-trends-worldwide-after-pm-modis-mann-ki-appeal-776114 |url-status=live }}

A list of current and former ambassadors:

• Tanishka and Riddhika Kotia, International Chess Players, ambassadors for the Gurgaon district.{{cite web | last=Arora | first=Sumit | title=Gurugram sisters chosen as 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' brand ambassadors | website=adda247 | date=2022-02-23 | url=https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/beti-bachao-beti-padhao | access-date=2 June 2023 | archive-date=1 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401112410/https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/beti-bachao-beti-padhao/ | url-status=live }}
• Vandana Katariya, Indian hockey player, ambassador for the Haridwar district.{{cite web | title=Vandana Katariya now a brand ambassador of 'Beti Bachao' campaign | website=Deccan Herald | date=2021-08-10 | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/vandana-katariya-now-a-brand-ambassador-of-beti-bachao-campaign-1018100.html | access-date=2 June 2023 | archive-date=2 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602160118/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/vandana-katariya-now-a-brand-ambassador-of-beti-bachao-campaign-1018100.html | url-status=live }}
• Tajamul Islam, two-time Kickboxing junior World Champion.{{cite web | last=Pandit | first=M Saleem | title=Kashmiri girl Tajamul Islam wins world kickboxing gold - More sports News | website=The Times of India | date=2021-10-30 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/kashmiri-girl-wins-world-kickboxing-gold/articleshow/87387930.cms | access-date=2 June 2023 | archive-date=25 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425121446/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/kashmiri-girl-wins-world-kickboxing-gold/articleshow/87387930.cms | url-status=live }}
• Sakshi Malik, Olympic medallist, freestyle wrestler.{{cite web |date=2016-08-24 |title=Sakshi Malik will be brand ambassador of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign: Haryana CM |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/sakshi-malik-will-be-brand-ambassador-of-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-campaign-haryana-cm/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207055916/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/sakshi-malik-will-be-brand-ambassador-of-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-campaign-haryana-cm/ |url-status=live }}
• Avani Lakhara, Paralympic champion, rifle shooter.{{cite web |date=2021-09-01 |title=Gold medalist Avani Lekhara to be 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' ambassador for Rajasthan - Jaipur News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/gold-medalist-avani-to-be-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-ambassador-for-rajasthan/articleshow/85818452.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925175754/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/gold-medalist-avani-to-be-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-ambassador-for-rajasthan/articleshow/85818452.cms |url-status=live }}

{{further|Female foeticide in India}}

Sex-selective abortion or female foeticide has led to a sharp drop in the ratio of girls born in contrast to boy infants in some states in India. Ultrasound technology 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 were 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. It has been observed that the trend is most pronounced in relatively prosperous regions of India.{{cite book|title=Selections from the regional press, V|page=68}} The dowry system in India is often blamed; the expectation that a large dowry must be provided for daughters for them to marry is frequently cited as a major cause for the problem.{{cn|date=July 2021}} Pressure for parents to provide large dowries for their daughters is most intense in prosperous states where high standards of living, and modern consumerism, are more prevalent in Indian society.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

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.{{cite news|last=Gupta|first=Suchandana|title=Skewed sex ratio: MP launches 'Beti Bachao Abhiyan'|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Skewed-sex-ratio-MP-launches-Beti-Bachao-Abhiyan/articleshow/10212751.cms|access-date=September 27, 2012|newspaper=Times of India|date=October 3, 2011|archive-date=15 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115103319/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Skewed-sex-ratio-MP-launches-Beti-Bachao-Abhiyan/articleshow/10212751.cms|url-status=live}}

The Govt of India has formed a National Executive Committee to promote Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) across the country. The committee is organizing several programs to promote "Save Girl Child" and "to Educate Girl Child" since January 2015. Dr. Rajendra Phadke is the National Convener of BBBP Abhiyan. {{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

The Beti Bachao campaign is also supported by the Indian Medical Association.{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Indian Medical Association|year=2007|volume=105|issue=7–12|page=711|title=Indian Medical Association|publisher=Indian Medical Association}}

In August 2023 a movie Titled ‘Panch Kriti’ - Five Elements based on Swachh Bharat Mission was released in India which featured five stories and is set in Chanderi in Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh, has been largely shot in real locations. It was a women-centric film that touches upon several important themes and topics pertaining to women. It also delves into the importance of social movements taking place in India like ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’ and ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhaao Abhiyaan’.{{Cite web |url=https://zeenews.india.com/bollywood/panch-kriti-five-elements-a-film-that-showcases-rural-india-in-its-real-form-2633758.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 September 2023 |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713185617/https://zeenews.india.com/bollywood/panch-kriti-five-elements-a-film-that-showcases-rural-india-in-its-real-form-2633758.html |url-status=live }}

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reported that the scheme failed to meet its objectives. As per the CAG data, the sex ratio has deteriorated in many districts of Haryana and Punjab. According to the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, only ₹5 crores of a total of ₹43 crores allotted for the scheme in the financial year 2016-2017 was properly used.{{Cite web|title=Why the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme Has Failed on Several Counts|url=https://thewire.in/education/beti-bachao-beti-padhao-scheme-failed|access-date=2021-03-31|website=The Wire|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814060716/https://thewire.in/education/beti-bachao-beti-padhao-scheme-failed|url-status=live}}

As per the government data, more than 56% of funds were spent on publicity from 2014-15 to 2018-19. Less than 25% of the funds were released to districts and states, and the government did not release more than 19 percent of the funds. Minister of state Ministry of Women and Child Development, Virendra Kumar Khatik, claimed that the sex ratio in 53 out of 161 districts under the scheme declined between 2014–15 and 2016-17. According to experts, the scheme's minimal success is due to the government's inability to release funds efficiently and its disproportionate focus on publicity rather than making initiatives in the health and education sectors.{{Cite web|title=Truth Of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao': 56% Funds Spent On Publicity|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/quint/truth-of-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-funds-spent-on-publicity|access-date=2021-03-31|website=BloombergQuint|language=en|archive-date=7 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307205734/https://www.bloombergquint.com/quint/truth-of-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-funds-spent-on-publicity|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box

|quote = The Committee finds that out of a total of Rs 446.72 crore released during the period 2016- 2019, a whopping 78.91 percent was spent only on media advocacy.

|author = - Parliamentary committee on the Empowerment of Women, in Lok Sabha

|width = 50%

|source =

}}

In 2021, in Lok Sabha, according to the Parliamentary committee on the Empowerment of Women, 78.91% funds for 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' were spent on ads.{{cite news |last1=Quint |first1=The |title=80% Funds for 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' Spent on Ads, Says Parl Committee |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/beti-bachao-beti-padhao-80-funds-spent-on-ads-says-parliamentary-committee |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=TheQuint |date=11 December 2021 |language=en |archive-date=11 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211083729/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/beti-bachao-beti-padhao-80-funds-spent-on-ads-says-parliamentary-committee |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, in a written response to the upper house, stated that during the current financial year, 96.71 crore rupees have been spent on advertisements for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme until September 17. She mentioned that in the financial year 2019-20, 23.67 crore rupees were spent, in 2018-19, 160 crore rupees, in 2017-18, 135.71 crore rupees, in 2016-17, 29.79 crore rupees, in 2015-16, 24.54 crore rupees, and in 2014-15, 18.91 crore rupees were spent on advertisements for this scheme. Irani also stated that in August, the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) had evaluated the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, which indicated a positive change in behavior towards girls. {{Cite web |date=2020-09-22 |title=Government Expenditure on 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' Advertising: A Breakdown and Evaluation |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/national/393-crore-spent-on-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-advertisement-sex-ratio-improves-aml |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Prabhat Khabar |language=en-US}}

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{{cite web|url=http://wcd.nic.in/tender/Beti_bachao_beti_padhao_campaign_24072014.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=5 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105190442/http://wcd.nic.in/tender/Beti_bachao_beti_padhao_campaign_24072014.pdf |archive-date=5 November 2014 }}

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Category:Government schemes in India

Category:Sex selection in India

Category:Modi administration initiatives

Category:Women's education in India

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