79% Of Total Allocated Funds For ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ Went Into Advertisements | Parliamentary Committee Report

A parliamentary committee report with special reference to the Centre’s flagship scheme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) have highlighted that out of a total of Rs 446.72 crore released under the scheme during the period 2016- 2019, a whopping 78.91% was spent only on media advocacy, reported TOI.

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme, was launched in 2015 to address the decline in the Child Sex Ratio and the related issue of women empowerment, is implemented by states with 100 per cent central assistance.

The report was tabled in Parliament on Thursday. BJP MP Heena Vijaykumar Gavit said,,

Though the Committee understands the necessity to undertake media campaign to spread the message of BBBP among people, they have felt that it is equally important to balance the objectives of the scheme.

Since BBBP is one of the most important vehicles of the government to improve child sex ratio in backward regions and ensure education of the girl children, the committee has recommended that the government should, hereafter, reconsider spending on advertisements under the BBBP scheme and should focus on planned expenditure allocation for sectoral interventions in education and health.

Noting that there was a need for more efficient allocation and release of funds, the Committee cites that since the inception of the scheme in 2014-15 till 2019-20, the total budgetary allocation under BBBP scheme was Rs 848 crore, excluding the Covid stricken financial year of 2020-21. During this period, an amount Rs. 622.48 crore was released to the states. They noted,

However, to the Committees’ dismay, only 25.13% of the funds, i.e. Rs. 156.46 crore have been spent by the states reflecting not upto the mark performance of the scheme.

The committee has recommended the WCD ministry must immediately take up the issue with states/UTs and ensure proper utilisation of BBBP funds for the benefit of the girl child.

The committee said the unabated decline in child sex ratio (CSR) since 1961 (from 976 in 1961 to 927 in 2001 and 918 in 2011) was a matter of grave concern but noted that with consistent efforts the states are beginning to show positive results.

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