Essay on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao for UPSC : Since times immemorial, girls have been the victims of the mindset of a patriarchal society. They have been stripped of the basic amenities that would help them develop as an individual, both mentally and physically. Education plays a crucial role in nurturing an individual's potential and converting it into skills that can be used as a weapon to change the world. However, in order to be the benefactors of an educational qualification, girls must reach the stage to avail that education. This is one of the main issues plaguing our nation as the other half of society is severely neglected. Girls are subjected to a number of atrocities, even before they are born. After being born, they are unaware of the fact that they have entered a misogynistic society which is full of male chauvinists. However, it would be wrong to say that the issue has not been acknowledged as conscious efforts are being made to provide quality education to girls through the implementation of a number of welfare schemes.
Essay on Beti
Bachao Beti Padhao for UPSC
"A girl child is a
daughter, a friend; a sister, a wife, and a mother when you kill her kill many
others too." - Dr. Md. Usmangani Ansari
Since times immemorial, girls have been the victims of the
mindset of a patriarchal society. They have been stripped of the basic
amenities that would help them develop as an individual, both mentally and
physically. Education plays a crucial role in nurturing an individual's
potential and converting it into skills that can be used as a weapon to change
the world. However, in order to be the benefactors of an educational
qualification, girls must reach the stage to avail that education. This is one
of the main issues plaguing our nation as the other half of society is severely
neglected. Girls are subjected to a number of atrocities, even before they are
born. After being born, they are unaware of the fact that they have entered a
misogynistic society which is full of male chauvinists. However, it would be
wrong to say that the issue has not been acknowledged as conscious efforts are
being made to provide quality education to girls through the implementation of
a number of welfare schemes. In order to secure the future of a girl child in
India, it is important to address the issue from a number of angles by
understanding the state of the girl child and what she has to endure while
growing up.
Traditions and rituals have undermined the role of women in
bringing about change in society since centuries. It is unfortunate that
students are not sent to school according to their intelligence and aptitude,
but according to their gender. The question of educating a girl arises only if
she is allowed to be born. The sex ratio of 2016 estimated that there are 944
females per 1000 males. Even though the country has experienced an upward
trend, a lot needs to be achieved.
Primitive thinking still prevails as the practices of female
feticide and female infanticide are on the rise. Even with the government
banning the practice of prenatal sex determination, the practice of selective
abortion has not stopped. Girls are not given an equal chance to prove
themselves. The journey of a girl child from her mother's womb to be becoming a
responsible and independent adult is full of hardships, difficulties and
obstacles. Girls are often viewed as a liability to parents because it is
assumed marriage, she will not contribute to them financially. Here girls
required to be saved from primitive thought process and atrocity of social
phenomena.
Apart from this, girls are often malnourished, especially in
poor households where the parent chooses who is entitled to get better
nourishment. They are often the targets of discrimination. India has the world's
largest gender survival gap. Indian girls are 61% more likely than boys to die
between the ages of 1 and 5. So, for every five boys who die, eight girls die.
The report attributes this widening gender gap to girls getting much less
healthcare than boys. Girls are often brought to healthcare facilities when the
illness is in an advanced stage. They are also taken to less qualified doctors
than male children. This attitude clearly highlights the gender gap that exists
in society. Here she deserves more than the male child for protection to make
family, society and the nation progressive.
Even if the girl child does not become a victim of female
feticide or female infanticide, she undergoes a lot of hardships and
difficulties as she grows up. Practices like polygamy, child marriage,
trafficking, male inheritance, honor crimes and domestic violence still exist
in society. Dowry related deaths have increased as women are subjected to an
increased amount of mental and physical harassment by their in-laws so they can
extort as much money as possible. Since 2012, there have been 24,771 dowry
related deaths in India. Not only this, India has the highest number of child
brides in the world. It is estimated that 47% of girls in India are married
before their 18th birthday. India has more than 4.5 lakh girls under 15 years
of age who are married with children. Even after getting married, girls become
the victims of domestic violence. There are domestic violence laws in India but
its strict implementation by the executive is required. However, one of the
biggest obstacles being faced by the girl child is that she is denied the right
to get educated. This is one of the biggest factors hampering her development
in the long run. A number of socio-cultural factors like the people's way of
life including their attitudes, beliefs and value systems determine whether a
girl is allowed to get educated or not. Rural areas are comparatively more
primitive in this respect. At least a 40% of girls are not allowed to pursue
higher studies, due to the conservative familial ideologies. According to the
2011 Census, only 74.04% people are literate. Out of which female literacy
stands at 65.46% as compared to 82.14% male literacy. In rural areas, 4.5%
males and 2.2% females completed their graduation and pursued higher education.
There are schools, but most girls do not attend, often because of religious
reasons or cultural pressures. Even after enrolment, the dropout rate is
extremely high as girls succumb to the pressure of their family to contribute
to the household and get married.
It has become crucial to understand the importance of
educating the girl child in India. Right to education is deemed as a
fundamental right, i.e. it is justifiable and an individual can move the courts
if these are violated. Educating girls would ensure an improved quality of
life, in general. Through education, she will be more aware of her rights which
will make it easier for her to identify when her rights are being violated. The
life or condition of women would improve drastically, if we take a broad
outlook in the field of female education.
Education will make women more confident and independent in
life as they can use their qualifications to earn a living. Economic
empowerment is the only way to change the status of women in society and
overcome the socio-economic hierarchy. It will enable women and girls to play
an active role in the economic development and prosperity of our country as
doctors, lawyers, engineers, astronauts, teachers, administrators, businesswomen
or through any other profession of their choice.
Apart from this, education makes women and girls more aware
of the importance of health and hygiene. Through health education, women will
lead a healthier lifestyle and will be able to take better care of herself and
her children. Women also need to take equal part in the task of poverty
alleviation. This would demand a huge contribution on the part of educated
women. Education forms a strong foundation for learning and critical thinking.
Education enables the child to realize her full potential, to think, question
and judge independently; to be a wise decision-maker, develop civic sense and
learn to think their fellow human beings and to be a good citizen. It helps
them to make appropriate decisions.
In light of the state of women's education in India, a
number of welfare schemes have been employed by the government to ensure that
education reaches all section of society, especially the girl child. The
current Prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, launched the Beti Bachao Beti
Padhao yojna on 22nd January, 2015 to generate awareness and improve the
efficiency of welfare schemes meant for women and address the declining child
sex ratio in the country. The Mahila Samakhya program aims to empower rural
women through education by pursuing the objectives of the National Policy for
Education, 1986. Similarly, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme also
works in rural areas to provide primary level education to girls. Apart from
this, the National Program for girls at elementary level and Saakshar Bharat
mission aim to bring down the level of female illiteracy.
A lot needs to be achieved in terms of education of girls in
India. There needs to be more active implementation of the welfare schemes that
have been adopted. Camps can be organized in rural and urban areas to educate
women and enlighten them about their rights and to make them understand the
scope of education. There is also a need to improve the state of health care
facilities. Interactive officials need to make sure that girls are getting
education in both, urban as well as rural areas. The schemes must be subject to
a continuous monitoring system. The teachers must provide a progress report at
the end of every month and a more comprehensive report at the end of every
term. Also, the girl students must be provided with skills that employers
demand. In turn it will help them to contribute in the progress of India. A lot
needs to be achieved in terms of improving the state of the girl child in
India. It is important to recognize the role of education in achieving this
goal. Cent per cent education can only be achieved when girls are also given an
equal opportunity to get educated. Each educated individual will inspire
million others to get educated. The right to education is applicable to every
citizen of the country, and denying it to 48% of the population is both,
ethically as well as legally wrong. It is essential to replace primitive value
systems that downplay a woman's abilities and restrict her to the household.
Education has the power to change and transform the lives of the girl child in
India and plays a key role in deciding her fate.
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