BBBP district task force meeting held in Pulwama

PULWAMA, SEPTEMBER 28:  The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) District Task Force meet under the chairperson of, District Programme Officer ICDS Pulwama was held at the Town Hall Pulwama here today.

          ADC Pulwama Showkat Ahmad Rather,  ADC Tral  Reyaz Ahmad, CMO Pulwama, Principal GDC Women’s Pulwama, Tehsildars, BDOs, BMOs, CDPOs and other officers and officials of the  district were present in the meeting.

          At the outset of the meeting District Programme Officer ICDS Pulwama, spoke about the BBBP initiative and its need in J&K. He said that  in India, sex determination before birth and post birth discrimination against the girl child has increasingly led to an alarming situation. As per Census 2011 there has been significant declining trend in the Child Sex Ratio (CSR) between 0-6 years which declined to an all-time low of 918. Strong socio-cultural and religious biases, preference for son & discrimination towards daughters has accentuated the problem. Coordinated & convergent efforts are needed to ensure survival, protection and education of the girl child to make them realize their full potential.

               It was in this backdrop that the Government announced Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme to address the issue of decline in CSR through a mass campaign & multi-sectoral action plan in 100 gender critical districts across the country and district Pulwama being one among them. 

       The meeting was informed that a wide spectrum of activities will be taken in order to reverse the declining child sex ratio in the district. Activities such as celebration of Girl Child Day on every month in which girl child born in the area will be felicitated. 

Speaking on the occasion, ADC Pulwama, Showkat Ahmad Rather said that in order make this initiative successful, the line departments have to work in coordination. He said that sex determination of the fetus is a major social evil and all those involved in such activities should be punished and directed the health officials to strictly implement PC&PNDT Act in the district in letter and spirit.

Speaking on the effectiveness of BBBP, ADC Tral Reyaz Ahmad said that large scale awareness programmes should be organised throughout the length and breadth of the district so as to have maximum impact.