Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save girl child, Educate a girl child)

Blog By-

Neeraj Singh Manhas.

Abstract

Girls play an important role in a country’s cultural, social, political, and economic life. Our constitution places a high value on girls’ equality of status and opportunities. This paper investigates how girls’ education can be improved by disseminating information to all in a variety of meaningful ways. Girls’ education should be prioritised in terms of national development. The BETI PADHAO scheme has been briefly highlighted in this paper BETI BACHAO. The goal of this paper is also to provide some information to all readers about the problems, challenges, and constitutional and legal provisions that apply to girls. According to the national education policy (1986), “education for girls should be prioritised not only for reasons of social justice, but also because it accelerates social transformation.” My paper wishes to emphasise that educated men cannot exist in the absence of educated girls.

Keywords: Girl, Save, Empowerment, Education, Government Schemes.

Introduction

It is a social campaign launched by the Government of India to raise awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services for girls. This campaign called for the abolition of female foeticide and solicited suggestions from Indian citizens. Prime Minister NARINDER MODI launched the BETI BACHAO BETI PADHAO scheme on 22 January 2015. It is a national initiative co-led by the ministries of girls and child development, health and family welfare, and human resource development to address the issue of declining child sex ratios. According to census data, India’s child sex ratio (0-6 years) was 933 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2001, but it fell to 918 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2011. According to a 2012 UNICEF report, India ranked 41st out of 195 countries. According to the 2011 population census, India’s population ratio is 943 females for every thousand males. The 2011 sex ratio shows an upward trend when compared to the 2001 census data. “When you educate a man, you educate a man,” the saying goes, “but when you educate a woman, you educate a generation.” Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao is a social awareness campaign that encourages parents to celebrate the birth of a baby girl rather than be disappointed. For hundreds of years, Indian families have not rejoiced in the birth of a girl child, not only in rural areas, but also in urban circles. On top of that, orthodox families used to resort to female foeticide or abandoning the girl child, if she was born at all. Due to social and family constraints, the girls were unable to attend school or pursue higher education.

Importance of Girls Education

“Mobilizing the world’s women is the quickest way to change society.” — Malikleo, Charles There are currently 31 million primary school-aged girls who are not enrolled. In Sierra Leone, a girl is more likely to be sexually abused than to attend high school, and one in every nine girls in the developing world marries before the age of 15. There are 4 million more girls than boys who are not in school, and three countries have over a million girls who are not in school. There are 774 million illiterate people in the world, with women constituting two-thirds of the total. To many, these figures are just numbers on a page, but for the 31 million girls, they are a harsh reality. In 2018, statistics like these are incomprehensible and simply unacceptable. Today, we have the resources and the ability to end these realities once and for all, but as a global society, we sit back and let them continue. What makes this possible? According to Amnesty International, you have the right to sit silently by while a fellow human being is persecuted, tortured, oppressed, or abused, as well as the right to speak out. “Now is the time to speak up and fight for our girls’ education.” Education for girls is about so much more than just learning. The benefits of ensuring a girl’s equal access to education, employment, and adequate health care will be passed on to her children (both boys and girls), community, and country.”

If all women in the world received a secondary education, child mortality would be cut in half, saving 3 million lives. Not just the lives of girls, but all of life. “All children are important, they have the same rights and deserve the same opportunities,” says Christina Taylor, Community & Bequests Officer for Plan International. “However, because girls face the double discrimination of being female and young, it is critical that we focus efforts specifically on addressing their disadvantages and systemic abuse.” According to UNESCO, if all women completed secondary school, 12 million children would be spared stunted growth and malnutrition. Given that malnutrition causes nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of five, it is undeniable that we must educate girls who will become mothers. It’s easy to see how a lack of education has a cascading effect on societies. A girl’s education not only provides knowledge, but it also provides her with power and awareness over her own life, which benefits everyone in the long run. According to UNESCO, if all mothers completed primary school, maternal deaths would be cut in half. Every child deserves to grow up with the love and guidance of their parents, and by denying girls’ education, we are increasing the chances of many children growing up without a mother.

People used to bury their daughters alive during the ignorance era, which the Holy Quran strongly condemned. It is completely illegal and haram to abort a foetus when it is four months old unless there is severe compulsion, according to the law. “Islam commands us to treat our daughters well,” it said, adding that there is no Islamic concept of girls bringing misfortune and disrespect. Education is very important in Islam, according to its teachings. According to the Prophet Muhammad, his followers should:

“Acquiring knowledge is obligatory on all Muslims, male and female.”
“From the cradle to the grave, seek knowledge.”
“Acquire knowledge, even if it means travelling to China.”
“Whoever goes forth in search of knowledge is striving hard in Allah’s way until his/her return.”

Aims and Objectives

To put an end to sex discrimination against girls and the use of sex determination tests.
To ensure the survival and safety of girls.
To ensure girls’ participation in education and other areas.
Organize a large-scale campaign to advance girls in all fields.
To provide consultancy services in the areas of girls’ education and development;
To act as a catalyst in promoting innovations and progress in girls’ education in the country; and to act as a catalyst in promoting innovations and progress in girls’ education in the country.

Problems Limiting Girls

Rape and Sexual Assault

The sexual exploitation of girls is egregious, but it is symptomatic of society’s ongoing violence. The high rate of rape in India reflects this long-standing issue. These violations intersect with other margins to create a system of violence against girls based on caste, religion, region, or militarization in some of the most horrifying accidents that have come to light.

Dowry Deaths

Even though the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 prohibits the practice of dowry, the problem persists. We occasionally hear of girls being targeted by their in-laws for non-payment or partial payment of Dowry.

Harassment in public Places

Girls have risen to the forefront of the economy as a result of modern economic change, and they have taken on new roles in business, government, and society. However, workplace violations have emerged as a major issue in the modern era.

Domestic Violence

In India, it has been pointed out that incidents of domestic violence may have reduced but in some contexts, this violence’s have become means of limiting girls at home.

Eve-Teasing

Eve teasing is common in public settings.

Some Constitutional and Legal Rights of Girls

Article 15 (1) states that the state shall not discriminate against any Indian citizen on the basis of gender.
Article 16 (2) states that no citizen shall be discriminated against or be ineligible for any employment or office under the state on the basis of gender.
Article 39 (a) requires the state to ensure that men and women have equal access to adequate means of subsistence.
The state shall make provisions for just and humane working conditions and maternity leave (article 42).
Gender equality before the law (Article 14).
The state’s goal is to improve its people’s nutrition and standard of living (Article 47).
Article 15 (3) requires the state to make any special provisions in favour of girls and children.
The Protection of Girls from Domestic Violence Act (2005) is a comprehensive piece of legislation in India that protects girls from all forms of domestic violence.
The Indecent Representation of Girls (Prohibition) Act of 1986 prohibits indecent representation of girls in advertisements, publications, writings, paintings, figures, or any other medium.
Dowry prohibition act (1961) prohibits the giving or taking of dowry from girls at any time before or after marriage.
The Legal Services Authorities Act (1987) guarantees Indian girls free legal services.
The National Commission of a Girl’s Act (1990) established a commission of girls to study and monitor all issues concerning girls’ constitutional and legal rights and safeguards.
The Minimum Wage Act of 1952 prohibits discrimination between male and female workers, as well as different minimum wages for them.
The Family Courts Act (1984) establishes family courts to expedite the resolution of family disputes.

Steps to Improve Education and Rights of a Girl

There are several steps that could be taken in India to improve education and the rights of girls. Increasing awareness is critical in promoting girls’ education in India, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Individuals and organisations can educate the public about the importance of sending their female children to school and how it will benefit them in the long run. There are numerous ways to raise this awareness. Options include, but are not limited to, using media outlets such as television and radio stations, as well as newspapers and magazines, placing stickers in strategic locations, and going house to house to educate people about the importance of sending their female children to school. The goal would be to reach as many people as possible and provide them with the necessary information to encourage them to educate their children. Another critical means by which girls’ education in India can be carried out is through government policy. Government policies should require parents to send their children to school at a certain age. It should also make primary and secondary education mandatory for all children, regardless of gender. Punishments and sanctions could be imposed on parents who prevent their children from attending school based on this. The sanctions would be useful in forcing parents who do not want to send their children to school, particularly their female children, to do so regardless.

It is necessary to implement programmes and activities that encourage parents to send their children to school. First and foremost, the government could make primary and secondary education free of charge. This would eliminate the excuse of being unable to afford to send such children to school. Other forms of encouragement could include the provision of school uniforms and books for the children, as well as the provision of free meals for the children. The private sector, for example, could assist the government in this regard by covering some of the costs. Prior to the implementation of these programmes, such private establishments could organise scholarship programmes for children, with some of the scholarships specifically aimed at girls’ education in India. This would go a long way toward assisting parents who want to send their children to school but do not have the financial means to do so. Government and private organisations could also provide education loans.

Conclusion

Today’s women are acutely aware of their social, economic, intellectual, mental, and spiritual development. Their role, both inside and outside the home, has become an important feature of the country’s social and economic life. It will grow in importance. As a result, they cannot be denied an education at any cost, and greater attention should be paid to the issues of women’s training and development.

References

K Sandeep Kumar, Rajeev Mullick (19 May 2017). “UP govt sounds alert over BetiBachao Beti Padhao scheme fraud”. Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
Press Trust of India (28 March 2017). “Haryana govt cautions people against frauds under Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao scheme”. The Indian Express. Retrieved 12 June2017.
“PM Narendra Modi invites ideas on “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao””. DNA India. 11October 2014. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
“PM to Launch ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ Programme from Haryana”.Newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
“PM Narendra Modi to launch ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme fromHaryana”.The Economic Times. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
Mohan, Rohini (30 June 2015). “How PM Modi’s Beti Bachao, Selfie Banao campaign became a rage to rewrite gender-skewed Haryana”. Economic Retrieved 1July 2015.
Sanyal, Anindita 2015). “#SelfieWithDaughter Trends Worldwide After PM Modi’s Mann ki Baat”. NDTV. Retrieved 1 July 2015.