New Delhi: Government's ambitious 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme' to improve the child sex ratio (CSR) will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22.
The issue of decline in CSR is complex and multi-dimensional and the scheme will address the issue within the broad framework of survival, protection and education of girl children.
Under the scheme, a multi-sectoral strategy governed by the core principles of respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of girls and women, including the ending of gender based violence will be adopted, a statement issued by Women and Child Development Ministry said.
The core strategies of BBBP include evolving a sustained social mobilization and communication campaign to change societal norms, to create equal value for the girl child, positioning improvement in the CSR as a lead development indicator for good governance, Focusing on very low CSR or gender critical districts and cities for accelerated impact.
As a part of the strategy, frontline worker teams as catalysts for social change, in partnership with local community, women's, youth groups (Ahimsa Messengers) will be mobilized and empowered along with developing capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies, especially women panchayat to create peer support for making panchayats and urban wards girl child friendly.
The BBBP Scheme will be implemented through a national campaign in 100 selected districts, covering all states and UTs and is a joint initiative of Women and Child Development, Human Resource Development and Health Ministries.
The scheme will launched by Modi at Panipat in Haryana.
The objectives of the scheme is to prevent gender biased sex selective elimination by stern enforcement of all existing Legislations and Acts, especially by strengthening the implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act) with stringent punishments for violations of the law.
Also, the objective is to ensure access and availability of essential requirements related to nutrition, health, care, education and protection and elimination of discrimination of girl child which can lead to low self-esteem, lifelong deprivation and exclusion from the social mainstream.
Appropriate initiatives will be taken to encourage girls to express their views and to be heard, to participate actively, effectively and equally at all levels of social, economic, and political leadership, the statement said.
Long term interventions for gender equality would focus on creating enabling environment including employable opportunities, safety and security, mobility and speedy justice.
The objectives will be achieved through convergence and coordination with concerned ministries, departments and district administration.
The trend of decline in the CSR, defined as number of girls per 1000 of boys between 0-6 years of age, has been unabated since 1961. The decline from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 and further to 918 in 2011 is alarming.
The decline in the CSR is a major indicator of women disempowerment. There are wide variations seen in ratios across different regions of the country. The CSR remains adverse in 21 States and Union Territories, the fall ranging from 3 to 79 points. 11 states and 2 UTs have shown an increase in CSR during the last decade.
The district level changes in CSR are much more pronounced as may be seen that out of 640 districts in the country, 429 districts have experienced decline in CSR. The decline is widespread across the country ranging from urban to rural, remote as well as tribal areas.
