Maneka Gandhi asks Maharashtra Govt. officials to promote Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi today asked officers of the Department of Women and Child Development of Maharashtra, two commissioners and district collectors of ten districts to actively promote the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme.

The message was conveyed via video conference as a part of regional and state-wise consultations being held by the ministry on BBBP.

Gandhi elaborated on the problem of low CSR and requested district collectors to take urgent action as per guidelines and to submit district action plans through the state government.

She informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally launch the scheme January 22, 2015 from Panipat in Haryana.

She urged district collectors to play a catalytic role in the successful implementation of the BBBP scheme, and appealed to them to ensure its success.

Gandhi said there is need for stricter implementation of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and strengthening the monitoring mechanism at the district level, and called for sustained efforts to change people's mindset, social attitudes and behavior.

She asked district collectors to spread awareness of the problems through yatras, holding meetings with sarpanchs, religious leaders and identify champions who could propagate the message amongst the communities.

She said the officials should promote the celebrating of the birth of the girl child and maintain gudda guddi cards (recording sex at birth) and display this information in all panchayat ghars, hospitals and government offices.