Revised Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
Why in News?
The Central Government, expanding the mandate of its flagship scheme – ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ (BBBP Scheme) announced the inclusion of skilling of girls in non-traditional livelihood (NTL) options.
- At the national conference on skilling in non-traditional livelihoods for girls, Ministries of Women and Child Development MW&CD emphasises the importance of convergence between various departments for providing quality education to empower girls.
What is BBBP Scheme?
- About:
- The Scheme was launched by Prime Minister on January 22, 2015 to addresses the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women’s empowerment over a life-cycle continuum.
- It is a Tri-ministerial effort of the Ministries of Women and Child Development (MW&CD), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MH&FW), and Ministry of Education.
- Main Objectives:
- Prevention of gender-biased sex-selective elimination.
- Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child.
- Ensuring education and participation of the girl child.
- Protecting rights of Girl children.
- Innovative Interventions under BBBP: Innovations that have created a positive ecosystem/ enabling environment for girls include:
- Guddi-Gudda Boards: (Display of Birth Statistics (number of Girls born vis-à-vis number of Boys) in public). Example: Jalgaon district, Maharashtra has installed digital Guddi-Gudda Display Boards.
- Breaking Gender Stereotypes & Challenging Son-centric Rituals: Celebration of birth of the girl child, dedicating special day on value of girl child, plantation drives symbolizing nurturing and care for girl child. Example: Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu), Selfie with Daughters (Jind district, Haryana).
What are the New Changes in the BBBP Scheme?
- Some of the new aims in the revised BBBP scheme include:
- Ensuring 1% increment in enrolment at the secondary level particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects.
- Skilling of girls and women every year (mainly in non-traditional livelihoods)
- Raising awareness about safe menstrual hygiene
- Promulgating elimination of child marriages
- Other Changes to the Scheme:
- The MW&CD also emphasised the convergence between various departments for providing quality education (including vocational) to empower girls.
- A MoU was signed between the MW&CD and Ministries Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minority Affairs to ensure adolescents complete their education, build skills, and enter the workforce in a diverse range of professions.
- A national committee headed by the Secretary of MW&CD, formed under the larger Mission Shakti will review the implementation of the BBBP scheme with states and UTs.
What are the Other Initiatives to Support Girl Children?
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
- CBSE Udaan Scheme
- National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education
- National Girl Child Day
- Scheme for Adolescent Girls
- Sukanya Samridhi Yojana
What are Non-Traditional Livelihoods (NTL)?
- “Non-Traditional Livelihoods” (NTLs) – sectors and jobs where participation of women is and has historically been conventionally low or absent. Like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects due to gender-based categorization of the work, in the society.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Mains
- What are the continued challenges for Women in India against time and space? (2019)
- Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the requirements and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context? (2016)