Policy Update
Fatima Firdaus
Introduction
The phrase “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” is a catchword in Hindi and literally translates as “Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter.” The term implies two fundamental steps: ‘Bachao’ (save) – that is, saving the girl child from pre-birth elimination and early neglect; and ‘Padhao’ (educate) – which implies that girls need to be educated so that they are empowered and equally integrated into society. This phrase was chosen to strike a chord with Indian society and convey a powerful social message in simple, doable words.
The scheme was launched by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on January 22, 2015, in Panipat, Haryana, which was the state with the worst child sex ratio in India. The scheme was conceived as a reaction to the shocking 2011 Census report of the Child Sex Ratio (CSR) falling to 918 girls per 1,000 boys. The campaign is not just a policy but a social change movement to change ingrained cultural prejudices which undervalue girls.
Since the previous decade, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) has been India’s largest gender equality initiative. Its aims are to eliminate sex selection on the basis of gender, improve the survival and education of girls, and alter the attitudes of society towards girls. As the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme marks its 10th anniversary in 2025, we take this moment to present a comprehensive and fact-based overview of its objectives, implementation, achievements, and challenges.
Background
The Government of India launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme on 22 January 2015 at Panipat, Haryana, with the very specific aim of arresting the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and guaranteeing the education and empowerment of girls. The CSR, as per the Census 2011, fell to 918 girls per 1,000 boys, and this reflected a strong need to reverse gender-based discrimination, sex-determination-based abortions, and institutional neglect of girls.
BBBP is a collaborative effort of three key ministries:
1. Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) – the nodal ministry
2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW),
3. Ministry of Education (MoE, formerly MHRD).
First launched in 100 gender-sensitive districts, the program was later rolled out to 640 districts nationwide. The general goals of the program are to avert sex-selective elimination, ensure the survival and well-being of the girl child, and ensure her education and engagement in society.
Working of the Policy
BBBP is primarily a media and advocacy programme with the objective of transforming the attitude of society towards the girl child. The programme provides grants to the state and district levels to conduct awareness campaigns, mobilization of the community, and for enforcement of legal provisions such as the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994.
Still, a Performance Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), 2021, noted serious implementation roadblocks. The total of ₹446.72 crore disbursed in 2016–19, and ₹364.66 crore (78.91%) were spent on media activities only. As low as ₹62.24 crore (13.9%) were distributed to district-level personnel, which are important for bottom-level implementation.
In addition, the plan lacked tangible outcome indicators for measuring change in behavior or tangible improvement in education or health. According to NITI Aayog’s 2020 review of centrally sponsored schemes, monitoring and evaluation systems under the scheme were poorly managed, with most districts failing to maintain proper records or report progress effectively.
Despite such issues, BBBP has witnessed active involvement of schools, anganwadi centres, and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), which have organized girl child festivals, oath ceremonies, and campaigns such as “Beti Janmotsav”.
Performance
Child Sex Ratio (CSR)
The CSR, while remaining an issue, has risen. Health Management Information System (HMIS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has reported the CSR has gone up from 918 in 2011 to 933 in 2021–22 in BBBP-covered districts.
In addition, as per the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019–21), Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh states have experienced little change in CSR, a gradual but positive trend.
Education Indicators
Based on Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2022–23, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls in secondary education increased to 77.45%, and adolescent girls’ dropout at the stage of upper primary and secondary school fell slightly during the last five years. The figures suggest that BBBP campaigns may have indirectly assisted in the retention of girls in school by creating awareness and motivating them.
District Performance
There were 640 districts in all, and 115 districts had a positive CSR change following the implementation of the scheme, as per the MWCD Annual Report 2022–23. Yet again, the report also established that the other districts stagnated or went back, which is an indicator of uneven implementation.
Impact of the Policy
Creating Awareness and Framing Perception
One of the most commendable achievements of BBBP has been its sensitization at the mass level. Through print, television, internet campaign, and grassroots outreach, the programme successfully put matters of female infanticide and gender imbalance on the public agenda.
Initiatives such as “Selfie with Daughter” and National Girl Child Day events reached the millions of rural and urban India. As per the PIB press release (2022), more than 10 crore individuals were reached through IEC activities, raising the policy’s visibility among the masses.
Synergy with Other Schemes
BBBP created a synergy network of existing government programs such as:
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) – a savings scheme for a little girl
POSHAN Abhiyaan – to address malnourishment among girl children and mothers
Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) – adolescent health.
These convergences enabled the development of a more comprehensive approach towards empowering the girl child.
Behavioural Changes and Community Mobilisation
Qualitative field surveys and NGO reports from organizations like Breakthrough India and ActionAid recorded more social acceptance of daughters and greater participative engagement of girls in school and community life. In the West Bengal Nadia district and Rajasthan Jhunjhunu district, where the campaign was intense, quantifiable improvements in CSR and girl child enrollment were observed.
Emerging Issues
Over-Centralisation of Funds
A considerable amount of money was lying unconsumed at the district level. As per the CAG Report 2021, of ₹222.72 crore released to the states during 2016–19, only ₹62.24 crore even reached the district level, indicating poor fund transmission mechanisms.
Lack of Direct Benefits
Unlike programmes such as Kanyashree (West Bengal) or Ladli Lakshmi (Madhya Pradesh), BBBP does not provide direct economic benefits for the schooling or healthcare of the girl child. This limits its practical application among economically poor sections.
Weak Monitoring and Accountability
District monitoring committees and task forces were either non-existent or non-functional. Baseline data to measure outcomes were not maintained in the majority of districts so that success was subjective to assess.
Uneven Implementation Across States
States such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra were already scoring high on CSR and girl education, whereas backward states such as Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh continue to be plagued with gender imbalances. The “one-size-fits-all” strategy of the BBBP failed to consider such variations on regional lines.
Recommendations
Decentralised Implementation and Real-Time Monitoring
More bottom-up strategy is required, in which local governments are given the power to plan and implement awareness campaigns. Use of digital dashboards for monitoring in real time can assist in delivering more accountability.
Integration of Conditional Cash Transfers
Inclusion of conditional cash transfer components, especially linked to school enrollment or health check-ups, can be a clear incentive for parents to invest in their girls.
Community-Based Model
Increased involvement of school management committees, NGOs, and self-help groups has the potential to bring sustainable community ownership. Models such as Kanyashree and Laadli Yojana, which have proven successful in states, can be emulated and replicated.
Region-Specific Policy Reforms
Customizing the interventions based on local evidence and local cultural dynamics can enhance BBBP. For instance, in tribal areas, where the density of health and education services is already low, integrating with other tribal welfare schemes is essential.
Way Forward
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative, now in its tenth year, is a strong case of a national social movement campaign to advocate gender equality that managed to mainstream gender equality in Indian public discourse. Although its real-world effects on schooling and sex ratio are patchy and still in the making, its symbolic value cannot be underestimated.
To realize its potential, BBBP will need to transcend awareness generation to service delivery with an action bias. Convergence with compatible programmes, promotion of incentives linked with performance, and transparency in utilization of funds will be the drivers of the scheme’s second phase. As India progresses toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality – BBBP remains at the forefront of creating a world where daughters not only are born and educated but also celebrated and empowered.
References
About the Contributor
Fatima Firdaus – Research Intern at IMPRI, currently pursuing MA in Human Rights at Aligarh Muslim University.
Acknowledgement
I sincerely thank Aasthaba Jadeja for assigning this work and providing consistent support throughout. I am also grateful to Deepankshi Agnihotry, Deborah Basumatary, and Chetan Gupta for their valuable reviews and critical insights.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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