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n an unprecedentedly IS SAVE GIRL child. Out of this, 155.71
bizarre way, the NDA crores had been incurred on
government has spent advertisement and public-
more than 56 per CHILD SCHEME ity till December 2018. The
I cent of the cumula- government is yet to release
tive funds allocated for the AN EYEWASH? 55.66 crores, a little over 19
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao per cent of funds.
(Save Girl Child Educate Girl Paid advertising was
Child) scheme, launched higher in 2017-18 with 68
with big fanfare by Prime The NDA government, as per reports, has spent per cent of the total sum of
Minister Narendra Modi in 56 per cent of the cumulative funds allocated for 200 crores allocated for the
2014-15, on paid advertise- scheme out of which 135.71
ment and publicity. The the campaign on its publicity, writes MY SIDDIQUI crores was spent on adver-
scheme intends to correct tisements. In 2016-17, out of
the skewed child sex ratio of law-based democratic of 648 crores has been al- the total sum provided for
to ensure parity between governance, policy deci- located for the lofty scheme the scheme, 29.79 crores
men and women and other sions are taken collectively since 2014-15 when the was spent on advertise-
issues of empowerment by the Union Cabinet. Once current Union Government ments and the remaining
of women. A major portion a policy decision is taken, took office. Out of this, 56.27 Rs2.9 crores disbursed to
of the money was allocated the individual minister per cent was spent on pro- States and Union Territories,
to paid advertising in both concerned takes charge of moting the prime minister translating to the lowest
print and electronic media, its implementation and for publicising and advertising relative allocation to imple-
i.e., visual publicity, includ- that matter is in the fore- the scheme of Beti Bachao ment the scheme.
ing hoardings, promoting front. That is, every cabinet Beti Padhao. Only 24.5 per It is clear now that the
the prime minister as the minister is the chief author- cent, equivalent to 159.18 scheme, much touted for
messiah for all-round ity regarding the ministry crores, was disbursed to the overall upliftment of
development and prosperity under his/her charge. States and Union Territories girls, has come a cropper
of women, whereas the According to the Ministry for implementation of the on the altar of the public-
Minister for Woman and of Women and Child Devel- scheme. ity of and advertisements
Child Development was opment, a cumulative sum During the current for the prime minister at
nowhere in the picture, financial year of 2018-19, a the expense of the welfare
which bodes ill for Indian • Ground reality The ‘Save Girl sum of 280 crores has been of the targeted group. This
democracy. Child’ scheme could be seen more allocated for the all-round speaks hollow of the Sangh
In India’s system of rule on hoardings than on the ground development of the girl Pariwar-led NDA Union
Government, which in
practice is denigrating
women ostensibly in the
name of development
notwithstanding ever rising
crimes and violence against
girls and women as never
before.
Failure of the scheme
is due to lack of policy
implementation, ineffective
monitoring mechanisms,
and diversion of funds. The
government’s claims that
by 2018-19, all 640 districts
across the country have
been covered under the Beti
Bachao Beti Padhao scheme
have also been demolished!

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