Beti bachao beti padhao & Sukanya Samriddhi account

Modi launched twin programmes of "Beti bachao, beti padhao" and "Sukanya Samriddhi account" in a bid to encourage birth and education of girls and tackle the abysmally low child sex ratio of 918 girls for 1000 boys.
 PM launched the two schemes from Panipat in Haryana that has among the lowest child sex ratio in the country (837 girls to 1000 boys).

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

 Launched on 22nd January 2015
 The campaign will be initially implemented in the 100 districts, including 12 in
Haryana, and across the country where the sex ratio is rather poor

Main objectives :
1. Prevent female infanticide
2. Ensure every girl child is protected
3. Ensure every girl child is educated

Implementation

Administrative

1. District collector will head a district taskforce, will network with schools-colleges, NGOs, companies aiming to spend CSR-funds, media, youth and so on.
2. Same way SDM will head block-task-force.
3. One nodal officer in each department for monitoring the district plans.

Child marriages

1. In North India, Child marriages held on Akshaya Tritiya- so additional surveillance during that period.
2. Panchayat will be held accountable if child marriages occur.
3. Create parliamentary forum of MPs representing 100 districts.

Birth and female feticide

1. Collector and District judge will submit collaborate on PNDT cases, submit monthly reports to union government. Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques
2. Regular inspection of clinics in district.
3. Online portal for filling anonymous complaints. Reward system for informants- about doctors involved in sex-determination, illegal abortion, ultrasound machines etc.
4. Asha workers will give mother-child protection card.
5. If pregnant mother registered under Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog yojana in 1st trimester, she’ll be given Rs.3500/-
6. Reduce no. of underweight girls under 5 age
7. Panchayat to display gudda-guddi board – number of new born boys and girls -every month.

Protection

1. Strictly implement POCSO Act to save girl-child from sexual abuse. POCSO= Protection of children from sexual offenses Act 2012.
2. Shelters: Sabla, Swadhar-grih, working women’s hostel and so on.
3. Make community watch group of women- to ensure protective environment for girl child.

Education

1. School Management Committees to ensure all girl child enroll.
2. Identify problems faced by girl-child in coming to school e.g. taking care of siblings, collection of water-firewood, transport-safety, separate toilets, lack of uniform and textbooks and so on. Then help accordingly.
3. Introduce syllabus with gender equality.

Behavioral change

With help of religious leaders and community leaders, introduce social customs with Gender equality e.g.

1. Celebrate birth of girl-child similar to Lohri
2. Siblings should tie Rakhi to each other during Raksha-Bandhan
3. Promote concept of Ardhangini (equal life partner), and Encourage equal property rights.
4. Discourage the first preference to son. Allow daughters to perform last rites of parents.
5. Promote simple weddings, mass-wedding to reduce cost on girls’ parents.
6. Prevent child marriage, dowry practice.
7. Government officials should keep email signature “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao”.
8. Poster-awareness material, advertisements, song-dramas, social media, google-hangout

Rewards under Beti Bachao

1. If a Village uses “innovative” methods to improve sex-ratio, it’ll be given Rs.1 crore.
2. District collectors/DM, campaign ambassadors, grassroot workers will also be given suitable reward.
3. School Management Committees will be rewarded if 100% girl children enrolled, and pass in each class.

Sukanya Samridhi Yojana

• This small-deposit scheme is subpart of Beti Bachao campaign.
• (Minor) bank account for girl child below the age of 10.
• She can withdraw 50% of the money after reaching age of 18 e.g. for higher education. 18 years deadline will also help preventing child-marriages. (Although scheme is silent- on whether account money will be forfeited if child marriage done.)
• For initial account opening, minimum deposit Rs.1000 required.
• Later, any amount in multiple of 100 can be deposited, but maximum Rs. 1.5 lakh per year.
• Interest rate: 9.1% compounded annually. No income tax for this year.
• Account can be opened via post office or commercial banks, Account will remain operative until she reaches 21 age.