Beti Bachao Beti PadhaoAbhiyan: A Campaign to Influence & Change mindset

Akancha Anand, INN/Gwalior, @Infodeaofficial

“BetiBachaoBetiPadhaoAbhiyan”was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 which means “Save Girl Child, Educate Girl Child”. It is a nationwide scheme launched purposefully to address the issue of decreasing girl child ratio in the society as well as empowering girl child in the country. This scheme was launched to make people conscious of the importance of girl child within the Indian society as well as bring some positive changes and change the orthodox derogatory mindset toward the girl child.

The Madhya Pradesh Government had launched Beti Bachao Abhiyan on October 1,2007. Prior,LadliLaxmiyojana was also launched in 2006 under which state government bear expenses on girl child from birth up to completion of education and marriage. The results of these schemes have been lauded at national level. Recognizing its impact, the central government decided to implement the “betibachaobetipadhao” campaign throughout the country.

In Madhya Pradesh, the state government took a first of its kind initiative to appoint girls as district Brand Ambassador– those who haverecorded significant achievements in any field under the beti bachao beti padhao scheme.

Anshika Sharma- Brand AmbassadorBetiBachao-BetiPadhao

Anshika Sharma, is one such brand ambassador who has been chosen based on her accomplishment in cultural field.She is currently a student of Amity University, Gwalior pursuing bachelors in journalism and mass communication . Anshika agreed to answer some of our questions and shareher experience as brand ambassador of beti bachao beti padhao.

How do you feel to be part of this scheme beti bachao beti padhao ?

As brand ambassador, I feel proud and honoredto be part of this abhiyan. When this scheme was launched, 13 girls were selected as brand ambassador from Gwalior on basis of their significant achievement and being one of those 13 girls it feels extensive. It feels so great to represent this scheme on national level and take it forward on good premises. Similarly, I gain such great amount of admiration from the public.

How were you selected as beti bachao beti padhao brand ambassador?

As I said before, we 13 girls were selected as brand ambassador on the basis of our achievement in our respective fields. Like I was from cultural field so my certificates and awards were counted for me being selectedas brand ambassador of beti bachao beti padhao abhiyan.

What kind of work you need to do after becoming brand ambassador of beti bachao beti padhao abhiyan?

We need to take part in various government programs and represent ourselves as brand ambassadors, moreover we try to make peopleaware and communicate with individuals about different issueslike increasing health problems, importance ofeducation of both the sexes especially girls and maintenance of hygiene for girls. Like my work was to teach poor children(both girls and boys) near railway station and Iadditionally help poor kids in overcoming their drugaddiction.

What kind of challenges you faced while informing and educating about this abhiyan to rural people?

Language and their rigid thoughts were the main challenges we confronted while informing them about this abhiyan. We girls use to inform them about this whole program and their orthodox mindset about girls made it more difficult to interact with rural people.

As you are also a beti what is your take on this abhiyanand do you think this abhiyaninfluenced people in saving girl child and educating girl child?

This abhiyan beti bachaobetipadhao has made great impact on saving the girl child and educating the girl child. With introduction of this scheme, the population and literacy rate of women has expanded. Yes, this abhiyan has influenced people like now in rural areas people are more concerned about their daughter’s education and the vast majority of public mindsethas also changed about girls. Even aborting girl child in the womb itself has decreased.