Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: A Sociological Analysis

Indian society is patriarchal in nature with a patrilineal kinship system and patrilocal norm of residence. Various beliefs, norms, modes of behaviour, attitudes and social values got embedded and internalised, through sanctions, in the socio-historical construction of Indian society which defined the cultural legacy of a strong preference for a son has been well documented in sociological and anthropological literature. The emergence of the nuclear family structure and spread of global ideology of small family norms along with the gender-biased socialisation process, the notion of family honour and sanctity attached to the issues of the girls' safety, security and marriage, the custom of dowry and religious obligations has accentuated the problem leading to discrimination towards the daughter. The concern for falling Child Sex Ratio (CSR) is a vital indicator of women's devaluation and disempowerment in a society as it reflects discrimination at both, the pre-birth as well as the post-birth levels. The paper attempts to sociologically analyse the institutionalisation of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) Scheme vis-a-vis the contextual reality in Indian society. The paper concludes that along with the stringent enforcement of laws, changing social norms is crucial in achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.