Beti Bachao, Beti Padao

 
Introduction: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came up with yet another ambitious approach, when he launched 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme on January 22, 2015 from Panipat, Haryana. Undoubted, it was the dire need of the hour.
The Scheme: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save girl child, Educate girl child) is a scheme by Government of India scheme that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of initiated welfare services meant for women. The scheme was initiated with an initial corpus of  Rs 100 crores and another sum of Rs 150 crores has been proposed for the safety of women in large cities. It has also proposed to start a special small savings scheme for the education of the girl child with a fund of Rs 14,389 crores.
The Objectives: This scheme is the flagship programme of the Government of India and aims primarily on the eradication of female foeticide and the promotion of girl child education, though, health, and education. Its stated objectives are to prevent gender biased sex selective elimination, to improve nutrition status of a girl child, to ensure survival and protection and education of the girl child, and to promote a protective environment for the girl child. The overall idea is to create awareness about gender equality and extend medical aid for various aliments for women and child.
Criticism: The scheme has been criticized on account of the inadequate fund allocation. It is also stated that the need is to rearrange and amend the laws to ensure rigorous punishment to those who interfere with the peaceful existence of girls in the society and who are involved in the practices of sex determination and sex selective abortion, including doctors.
Suggestion: There is a need to connect with the communities first. We need to provide an enabling environment for our girls and educate and inform people at the grass root level. Respecting every person equally, more so, at home by the parents. Also, we need to address the associated problems with bringing up the issues like education for woman, their health, and safety should be taken care of.
Conclusion: We need to understand that the solution of a social problem lies in bringing about mass awareness. Therefor, it is essential that we, as a nation, must rise to take on the task.