Revised Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme

• 12 Oct 2022

For Prelims: Govt schemes for Womens and Girls, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme (BBBP), Women in STEM, STEM, Ministry of Women & Child Development (MW&CD)

For Mains: Non-traditional livelihoods for Girls, Girls in STEM, Women related issues, Women and Atmanirbhar Bharat

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

Q. What are the continued challenges for Women in India against time and space? (2019)

Q. Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the requirements and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context? (2016)

Source: TH