On the 10th anniversary of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing his government of misallocating funds intended for women’s safety. Kharge took to social media, posting a series of criticisms about the Modi government’s priorities in ensuring the safety and empowerment of women across the country.
Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of focusing more on protecting criminals than ensuring the safety of women. He pointed to infamous cases such as Hathras, Unnao, and the ongoing struggles of women wrestlers, suggesting that the government’s actions did not align with its rhetoric on women’s rights.
In his post, Kharge highlighted the alarming statistics of crimes against women, revealing that 43 such crimes were recorded every hour, and 22 crimes were registered daily against women and children, particularly from vulnerable Dalit and tribal communities. “Modi ji has frequently spoken about women’s safety but why is there a gap between his words and actions?” Kharge questioned.
The Congress leader also criticized the central government for halting the presentation of data related to the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme, which was launched in 2015 with the objective of promoting gender equality and empowering women. According to Kharge, nearly 80% of the funds allocated for the scheme were spent on advertisements, instead of being utilized to address the core issues surrounding women’s safety and welfare.
Kharge went on to point out that after the Parliamentary Standing Committee exposed the misuse of funds, the budget for the scheme was slashed by 63% between 2018-19 and 2022-23. Following the merger of the ‘Beti Bachao’ scheme with the ‘Sambal’ program under ‘Mission Shakti,’ the Modi government allegedly ceased providing transparency on the scheme’s expenditure, and a 30% reduction in funds for ‘Sambal’ was noted in 2023-24.
In addition, Kharge questioned the Modi government’s decision to reduce the budget of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development by 50% over the past decade. He criticized the government’s reliance on superficial advertisements such as painting slogans like ‘Beti Bachao’ on trucks and walls, claiming they did little to address the real issues facing women. “Will putting ‘Beti Bachao’ on the back of every truck or painting it on walls stop crimes against women, create employment opportunities for them, improve health facilities, or ensure justice for women after atrocities?” Kharge said. He described these advertisements as hollow and hypocritical, highlighting the government’s failure to address critical concerns in women’s safety, health, and justice.
Kharge’s remarks come at a time when issues of gender violence and the plight of women continue to dominate public discourse. His criticisms underscore the need for the government to focus on concrete actions, rather than relying on campaigns and slogans, to improve the status of women in the country.
As the debate continues over the effectiveness of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme, Kharge’s comments reflect growing concerns about the disparity between government claims and the reality on the ground.
Sources By Agencies
