Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Background

The Census (2011) data showed a significant declining trend in

the Child Sex Ratio (CSR) between 0-6 years with an all-time low
of 918. The issue of decline in the CSR is a major indicator of
women disempowerment as it reflects both, pre-birth
discrimination manifested through gender biased sex selection,
and post birth discrimination against girls (in form of their health,
nutrition, educational needs). The principal factor behind the Child
Sex Ratio being so adverse is the low Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB).
Social construct discriminating girls on the one hand, easy
availability, affordability and subsequent misuse of diagnostic
tools on the other hand, have been critical in declining CSR. The
strong socio-cultural and religious biases, preference for sons and
discrimination towards daughters has accentuated the problem.

Since coordinated and convergent efforts are needed to ensure

survival, protection and empowerment of the girl child,
Government launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) on
22nd January, 2015 at Panipat in Haryana. It was initiated as a tri-
ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development,
Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development.
From 2021-22, the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Minority Affairs have also been
added as partners.
Since 2021-22, the scheme is subsumed into Mission Shakti -
Sambal sub-scheme.

Overall Goal

Celebrate the Girl Child & Enable her Education

The objectives of the Scheme are as under:

 To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination

 To ensure survival and protection of the girl child
 To ensure education and participation of the girl child
 To increase girl's participation in the fields of sports
Target

BBBP scheme aims to achieve the following:

 Improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) by 2 points

every year.
 Improvement in the percentage of institutional deliveries or
sustained at the rate of 95% or above,
 1% increase in 1st Trimester ANC Registration per year, and
 1% increase in enrolment at secondary education level and
skilling of girls/women per year.
 To check dropout rate among girls at secondary and higher
secondary levels.
 Raising awareness about safe menstrual hygiene
management (MHM).
Coverage

First Phase
The 100 districts have been identified on the basis of low Child
Sex Ratio as per Census 2011 covering all States/UTs as a pilot
with at least one district in each state. The three criteria for
selection of districts are:-

 Districts below the national average (87 districts/23 states);

 Districts above national average but shown declining trend
(8 districts/8 states)
 Districts above national average and shown increasing trend
(5 districts/5 states- selected so that these CSR levels can
be maintained and other districts can emulate and learn from
their experiences).

Second Phase
The scheme has further been expanded to 61 additional districts
selected from 11 States/UT having CSR below 918. To get the list
of additional districts covered.

Pan India Expansion of BBBP

The Pan India Expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
covering all 640 districts (as per census 2011) of the country was
launched on 8th March 2018.

Target group

1. Primary : Young and newly married couples and expecting

parents, Adolescents (girls and boys) and youth, Households
and communities
2. Secondary : Schools and AWCs,  Medical doctors/
practitioners, private hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic
centres etc. Officials, PRIs/ULBs, frontline workers, Women
 Collectives and SHGs, civil society organizations, media,
industry, religious leaders

Strategies

 Implement a sustained Social Mobilization and

Communication Campaign to create equal value for the girl
child & promote her education.
 Place the issue of decline in CSR/SRB in public discourse,
improvement of which would be a indicator for good
governance.
 Focus on Gender Critical Districts and Cities low on CSR for
intensive & integrated action.
 Adopt Innovative Interventions/Actions by the districts as per
their local needs, context and sensibilities.
 Mobilize & Train Panchayati Raj Institutions/Urban local
bodies/ Grassroot workers as catalysts for social change, in
partnership with local community/women’s/youth groups.
 Engage with Communities to challenge gender stereotypes
and social norms.
 Ensure service delivery structures/schemes & programmes
are sufficiently responsive to issues of gender and children’s
rights.
 Enable Inter-sectoral and inter-institutional convergence at
District/Block/Grassroot levels.

Components

Advocacy and Media Campaign on Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao

Under the Scheme, a Nation-wide campaign was launched for

celebrating Girl Child and enabling her education. The campaign
aims at ensuring that girls are born, nurtured and educated
without discrimination to become empowered citizens of this
country with equal rights. A 360° media approach is being
adopted to create awareness and disseminating information about
the issue across the nation.

Multi-Sectoral intervention in selected Gender Critical

Districts worse on CSR

Under the Scheme, the multi-sectoral action in selected 405

districts (including existing 161 districts) covering all States/UTs
will focus on schematic intervention and sectoral actions in
consultation with M/o H&FW & M/o HRD. Measurable outcomes
and indicators will bring together concerned sectors, States and
districts for urgent concerted multi-sectoral action to improve the
CSR.

Monitorable targets

 Improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in selected gender

critical districts by 2 points in a year. ii
 Reduce Gender differentials in Under Five Child Mortality
Rate from 7 points in 2014(latest available SRS report) to
1.5 points per year
 At least 1.5 % increase per year of Institutional Deliveries.
 At least 1% increase per year of 1st Trimester ANC
Registration. v)Increase enrolment of girls in secondary
education to 82% by 2018-19.
 Provide functional toilet for girls in every school in selected
districts.
 Improve the Nutrition status of girls - by reducing number of
underweight and anemic girls under 5 years of age.
 Ensure universalization of ICDS, girls’ attendance and equal
care monitored, using joint ICDS NHM Mother Child
Protection Cards.
 Promote a protective environment for Girl Children through
implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual
Offences (POCSO) Act 2012.
  Train Elected Representatives/ Grassroot functionaries as
Community Champions to mobilize communities to improve
CSR and promote Girl’s education.

Project Implementation

The Ministry of Women and Child Development would be

responsible for budgetary control and administration of the
scheme from the Centre. At the State level, the Secretary,
Department of Women and Child Development will be responsible
for overall direction and implementation of the scheme. DPO at
district level will be nodal officer for the implementation of the
Scheme. The scheme will be implemented through ICDS
platform/MSK/DLCW at district, block and village level in
convergence with Health, Education and Panchayati Raj Ministry.