Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to be Implemented in All Districts

By: WE Staff | Friday, 15 July 2022

According to guidelines released by the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, the Center's flagship programme for women's empowerment that focuses on increasing sex ratio and educating girl children, will now be expanded throughout the nation.

Currently, the programme is in use in 405 districts.

The ministry released thorough instructions for Mission Shakti; these are effective as of April.

In accordance with the guidelines, "the component will aim for zero-budget advertising and encouraging greater spend on activities that have on-ground impact...for promoting sports among girls, self-defence camps, construction of girls' restrooms, making available sanitary napkin vending machines and sanitary pads, especially in educational institutions, awareness about PC-PNDT Act, etc."

The sixth report on "Empowerment of women through education with special reference to "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" plan" was presented to the Lok Sabha in December by the committee on women's empowerment, which is chaired by Maharashtra-based BJP MP Dr. Heena Vijaykumar Gavit. According to the report, advertising expenses accounted for roughly 80% of the BBBP scheme's budget rather than sector-specific initiatives like women's health and education. The committee had voiced "dismay" at the under-utilization of funds and claimed that the scheme's performance in the states had not been "up to the mark."

The ministry has set goals to improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) by 2 points annually, increase the percentage of institutional deliveries to 95% or higher, increase first trimester ANC registration by 1% annually, increase enrollment in secondary education by 1% annually, increase skilling of girls and women annually, reduce the dropout rate of girls in secondary and higher secondary levels, and increase awareness.

By finding talent and connecting them with the proper authorities under "Khelo India," the programme will also attempt to increase the engagement of girls in sports.

The ministry also plans to add 300 One-Stop Centers (OSCs) in districts with either a high rate of crimes against women or that are geographically large, preferably in aspirational districts, to strengthen the One-Stop Centers (OSCs), which were established to assist women facing violence, including domestic violence and trafficking.

For coordination and convergence with other Nirbhaya Fund programmes, including as women's helplines, Anti-Human Trafficking Units, women's support desks, special fast-track courts, District Legal Service Authority, etc., the OSCs will serve as the ministry's cornerstone at the district level.

The OSCs provide temporary refuge for women in need, including those who have experienced violence and their children — girls of all ages and boys up to 12 years old. According to the rules, OSCs will work with Shakti Sadan to make arrangements for long-term housing.

Other platforms like the 1098 child line and NALSA will also be connected to OSCs, along with the toll-free, round-the-clock women's hotline 181, which will be combined with the Emergency Response Support System.

“In future, the endeavour would be to have a single number — 112 — for emergency response and 181 for taking care of all non-emergency and information dissemination services to women, girls and children,’’ the ministry stated.

For people who are unable to speak due to a situation or physical limitations, the helpline may also be accessible through text messaging or other types of messages.

The ministry has also added a new element called Nari Adalat, which will be implemented in stages and gives women a different grievance redress procedure to handle minor acts of harassment, subversion, or limitation of rights or entitlements at the gram panchayat level.