Essay : Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

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. CSR reflects both, pre-birth discrimination manifested through gender biased sex selection, and post birth discrimination against girls. Easy availability and affordability of diagnostic tools has been critical in increasing Sex Selective Elimination (SSE) leading to low Sex Ratio at Birth(SRB). Further it also contributes to the decline in CSR. Strong sociocultural and religious biases, preference for sons& discrimination towards daughters has accentuated the problem. Coordinated & convergent efforts are needed to ensure survival, protection and education of girl child to help realize her full potential. The Government has announced Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme to address the issue of decline in CSR through a mass campaign & Multi-Sectoral action in 100 gender critical districts.

Though the CSR is influenced by number of factors such as under-registration of girls, differential infant & child mortality, strong socio-cultural and religious biases, preference for sons & discrimination towards daughters, it is in large measure determined by Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB). SRB is defined as number of girls born per 1000 boys. The SRB for the period 2008-10 was 908 as against the internationally observed normal SRB of 952 clearly pointing out to lesser number of girls born 

Page 27 of 37 than the boys in India. A low SRB is directly linked to easy availability and affordability of diagnostic

 

tools leading to increasing Sex Selective Elimination (SSE). The sharp decline as pointed by Census 2011 data is a call for urgent action, as it highlights that the girl child is increasingly being excluded from life itself. Coordinated & convergent efforts are needed to ensure survival, protection and education of the girl child. The Government has announced BetiBachao, BetiPadhao(BBBP)programme to address the issue of decline in CSR through a mass

campaign across the country, and focussed intervention & Multi-Sectoral Action in 100 gender critical districts.

The objectives of this initiative are:

i) To prevent Gender biased sex selective elimination:

Focussed intervention targeting enforcement of all existing Legislations and Acts, especially to Strengthen the implementation of Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act) with stringent punishments for violations of the law.

ii) To ensure survival& protection of the girl child:

Article 21 of the Constitution defines protection of life and liberty‟ as a legitimate right of its citizens. The difference in mortality rates of girls and boys indicates the difference in access to various health care and nutrition services as well as the preferential care and treatment given to boys. The access to various entitlements, changes in patriarchal mind-set etc. are to be addressed in order to ensure equal value, care for and survival of the infant and young girl child. Further implementation of various legislative provisions for the protection of the girl child and women has to be ensured to create a nurturing and safe environment for the girl child.

iii) To ensure education & participation of the girl child:

The access and availability of services and entitlements during the various phases of the life cycle of the Girl Child has a bearing on her development. Essential requirements related to Nutrition, Health Care, Education and Protection have to be fulfilled to enable every girl child to develop to her full potentialespecially the rightto quality early childhood care, elementary and secondary education. Right To Education (RTE) Act, 2010 provides children the right to free and compulsory education till completion of elementary education in a neighbourhood school. Further, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a flagship programme for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, as mandated by 86th amendment to the

Constitution of India making free and compulsory Education to the Children of 6-14 years age group, a Fundamental Right. Denial of these entitlements is

a violation of children‟s rights, which will have a lasting lifelong negative impact. This will also adversely impact upon future human development.

-Source, Ministry of Women and Child Development Official Website