The stage is set for the launch of Centre’s ambitious ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme on Thursday at Haryana’s Panipat district.In a bid to improve the sex ratio in the country, the scheme will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme will be implemented through a national campaign in 100 selected districts, covering all states and UTs. It is a joint initiative of Women and Child Development, Human Resource Development and Health Ministries.
Modi’s decision to choose Haryana for the launch is significant as the state has 879 girls per 1,000 boys (Census 2011), one of the lowest child sex ratio in the country.Haryana Government has already announced to observe a holiday in all the Government and non-government schools on the day. The districts of Haryana where the scheme will be launched are Mahendergarh, Jhajjar, Rewari, Sonepat, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Rohtak, Karnal, Yamuna Nagar, Kaithal, Bhiwani and Panipat.
Other districts in the north where scheme will be implemented include 11 in Punjab, five in Jammu & Kashmir, two in Uttarakhand, one in Himachal and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.In the run-up to the formal launch, a two-day national workshop on ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ was held at Panipat on January 20 and 21. The workshop was attended by several dignitaries including Union Minister for Women and Child Development. Maneka Gandhi, Chief Ministers of Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The thematic sessions was also attended and addressed by senior officers from the Centre and the State Government and experts on the issues related to the girls’ birth, longevity and education. The Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has announced rewards for the villages achieving parity in Child Sex Ratio (CSR). Rupees 1 crore will be given for implementation of the scheme to each of the 100 identified districts. Several District Magistrates are already implementing innovative ideas to prevent sex selection and 89 new ideas have already been sent by them to the Ministry for sharing with other districts and States, she had said.
The Minister had informed that BBBP is a mission with clear cut timelines and the districts should show a visible change in numbers within nine months. The DMs are required to send monthly reports to the Ministry which will be further sent to the PMO.
VVIPs at the rally
The rally will start at 11 am while Prime Minister Modi is likely to launch the programme at 1 pm. Union Ministers including JP Nadda, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Suresh Prabhu, Maneka Gandhi, Harsh Vardhan and Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states are likely to attend the programme. Among other dignitaries, Haryana Governor, Haryana Chief Minister, Haryana Cabinet Ministers would attend the rally. More than 200 VVIPs and VIPs would attend the function. Besides, lakhs of people are likely to attend the BBBP launch rally at Panipat.
Rains expected
Rains are likely to play spoilsport during the launch of the BBBP scheme. The Met Department has predicted light to moderate rainfall in parts of Haryana on January 22. Also, a warning of hailstorm at isolated places in Haryana has been issued by the Met Department. Various parts of Haryana received light to moderate rainfall on Wednesday. Rainfall was also recorded in parts of Panipat till late evening.
Madhuri Dixit to be ambassador
Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit has been roped in as the brand ambassador of ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign’ which will be launched in Haryana.