Eleven years ago, on a pivotal day, India launched ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ to safeguard and educate its girls. On its anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the campaign’s success, declaring on X that India’s daughters are now pioneers setting unprecedented records nationwide.
PM Modi’s message evoked tradition: ‘Eleven years ago today, in our land that views daughters as Lakshmi, we started Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Today, it’s a source of immense pride as our daughters forge new paths of excellence in all spheres.’ He paired it with a shloka: ‘A single daughter yields the fruits of ten sons.’
The initiative, kicked off January 22, 2015, aims to halt sex-selective practices, protect girl children, and guarantee schooling. As a comprehensive national program, it engages districts-wide, fostering collaborations among communities, officials, NGOs, and press to champion girls’ rights.
Tangible gains include a healthier sex ratio at birth—up from 918 in 2014-15 to 929 now, via HIMIS reports—and boosted secondary education enrolment for girls, from 75.51% to 78%, as tracked by UDISE.
This evolution mirrors deeper cultural change, with girls dominating headlines in athletics, tech, governance, and beyond. The anniversary reaffirms the government’s resolve, positioning the campaign as a cornerstone for equitable progress and a brighter tomorrow for every Indian girl.