'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' improves girl child ratio in Himachal's Una

At a time when Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government is about to complete three years in office, the Prime Minister's flagship scheme- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) has helped improving girl child ratio in Himachal Pradesh's Una district.

Prime Minister Modi launched the BBBP on January 22, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana- the state with an alarming decline in the girl child ratio.

The BBBP involves efforts of three ministries- Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare and Human Resource Development.

It envisages addressing the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women empowerment over a life-cycle continuum.

The sex ratio is used to describe the number of females per 1,000 of males.

Himachal Pradesh first implemented the BBBP in Una district where the ratio of girl child was the poorest in the state- 875 females per 1,000 of males.

Additional director for Woman and Child Development Department of Himachal Pradesh Government, Dileep Negi said, "Now this ratio has increased to 900 females per 1000 males in Una District."

Enthused by the results, the state government has launched the BBBP scheme also in Kangra and Hamirpur districts.

The Muskan scheme is launched in other districts under the banner of 'Beti Bachao- Beti Padhao' to monitor the pregnant women.

In order to discourage the pre-birth sex determination test, the state government has launched a pilot project in Hamirpur district wherein Rs. 6,000 is being given to pregnant women after the delivery.

However, Himachal Pradesh is yet to implement the Union Government's decision to give paid maternity leave of 26 weeks to women.

In his 30th Mann ki Baat address to the nation in March, Prime Minister Modi said, "Working women will now be given maternity leave of 26 weeks instead of the earlier 12 weeks for their pregnancy and delivery. The basic aim is to ensure proper care of the newborn, the future citizen of India, from the time of birth."

At present, the Himachal Pradesh Government employees are entitled for 135 days (19.2 weeks) of paid maternity leave.

Neelam Sharma, a state government employee, said, "I feel Modi government is trying to do a lot for woman and child development but it may take more time to be implemented in entire nation. For example, the extension of maternity leave is a remarkable step in this direction but we are not benefited as the ruling Congress party in Himachal has not approved it for the state government employees. So much more is still required but there is a hope...