Once a flagship social mission, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, launched by PM Modi about a decade ago with much fanfare from Panipat, is now floundering in Haryana. As the sex ratio at birth starts to slide again, the state seems to have finally woken up to the grim scenario, writes Pawan Kumar Bansal
“Beti Bachao,Beti Padhao” programme, launched by PM Narender Modi about a decade ago with much fanfare from Panipat in Haryana, is losing steam. The program which was at one time a priority programme of the Haryana government is no longer so.
The Program has lost its ownership and the government, although evincing its concern, has lost its interest in the programme. Sex ratio at birth, which was at its peak at 923 against 1,000 about five years ago, has slumped to 910 now. Although the government has taken some action to check sex detection tests, it seems that the issue is not on the priority list of political bosses.
The State of Haryana which was notorious for honour killings and female foeticide had established a benchmark by making appreciable improvement its sex ratio at birth from 871 ( 871 girls per 1000 boys) in 2014 to 923 in 2019 after Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign was launched by the Prime Minister. “Save the Girl Child” campaign was undertaken by the state as a challenge and was looked after personally by the then Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who had designated Dr Rakesh Gupta, additional PS to the CM, to take it forward.
Monthly review meetings with Deputy Commissioners, quarterly divisional meetings at Division level to review the progress of campaign and coordination with adjoining state administration helped the CM office to get the state out of the red in a short span.
Efforts of the state bore fruit and the state crossed SRB 900 in 2016. The state was appreciated throughout the country as well as globally.
As a part of planned strategy, District PNDT teams conducted more than 1000 decoy operations using pregnant women as decoy to unearth an unholy nexus of sex detection and illegal abortion leading to female foeticide. Ultrasound machines of such unscrupulous elements were sealed, seized, FIRs lodged and wrongdoers were put behind jail. It was indeed a “War against female foeticide” situation in the state.
Sex Ratio at Birth continued around 920 till the year 2023 (SRB 916) however after 2023, it started down trending and is presently pegged at 909 till March 2025. Due to multiple reasons, the program lacked the muscle to reach 950, which was the target and perfect figure from a public health point of view.
