56% Of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' Funds Spent On Advertisements: Minister

The Centre has spent a total of Rs 364 crore since 2014 in advertising the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet projects that aims to improve the child sex ratio, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Virendra Kumar has said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

According to the data, over 56 percent of the funds allocated under the scheme from 2014-15 to 2018-19, were spent on "media-related activities". In contrast to this, less than 25 percent of the funds were disbursed to districts and states.

The data also shows that over 19 percent of the funds weren't released by the government in the first place.

Till now the government has allocated Rs 644 crore for the scheme, out of which only about Rs 159 crore have been sent to districts and states. This is the year-wise break-up of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ funds, as stated by the government in its answer in the Lok Sabha.

According to the data, the Centre had spent Rs 280 crore for the scheme in 2018-19, out of which Rs 155.71 crore was allocated for advertising and Rs 70.63 crore distributed to states and districts.

Image credit: www.loksabhaquestions.com

In 2018-19, the numbers were even high, out of the total fund of Rs 280 Crore, 155.71 Crore was spent on media activities.

However, the minister when asked if the scheme has failed due to lack of implementation, the minister said, "Since, 2018-19, all 640 districts (as per census 2011) of the country have been covered under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme (BBBP). Out of 640 districts, 405 districts are covered through Multi-sectoral intervention, Media & Advocacy and 235 districts covered through alert Media & Advocacy outreach".