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Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: Modi Govt Spent Rs 364 Cr Of Rs 648 Cr For Advertising
22 Jan 2019 12:29 PM GMT
The Modi led Central government has spent around Rs 364.66 crores for advertisement related activities of the total Rs 648 crore fund allocated for “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme”, since 2014. While activists and opposition party members are criticising the government for allocating such a small amount of funds for such a massive project, the real question is how much of the fund is actually changing the lives of girl child across the nation.
What is Beti Bachao Beti Padhao?
The Beti Bachao Beti Padaho (BBBP) scheme is one of the Modi’s pet projects which focuses on improving the child sex ratio. The Prime Minister himself launched the scheme on January 2015 in Harayana’s Panipat. It aims districts with the worst child sex ratio. Minister of State for Women and Child Development Virendra Kumar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said that the scheme was implemented to increase nation-wide awareness, advocacy campaign and multi-sectoral action.
Breakdown of funds spent in the first five years
For the year 2018-2019, the government spent the highest amount behind advertising the campaign. It spent Rs 155.71 crore out of the Rs 280 crore allocated and distributed Rs 70.63 crore to states and districts. The Central government failed to utilise Rs 53.66 crore, which constituted around 19% of the funds.
For the year 2017-2018, the figures shared by the Virendra Kumar were more shocking as the Central government spent more than 68% for publicity of the total fund allocated that year. It spent Rs 135.71 crore on media activities. The government spent only Rs 33.2 crore for the cause.
During the financial year 2016-2017, the money spent on the cause was too small. That year the Central government allocated Rs 43 crore of which significant chunk, i.e., Rs 29 crore was released for media activities. For the financial year 2015-2016 and 2014-2015, of the total fund earmarked Rs 75 crore and Rs. 50 crore, the Modi government spent Rs 24.54 crore and Rs 18.91 crore for publicity related activities respectively.
On January 4, 2019, Virendra Kumar in a written reply said that out of the 640 districts, 405 are covered through multi-sectoral intervention and media and advocacy whereas 235 districts covered through alert media and advocacy outreach reported India Today.
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