- Multiple initiatives to empower girls under ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ launched by the Odisha government.
- A series of initiatives have been implemented under the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme by the Odisha government to address the alarming gender imbalance and declining child sex ratio in India.
- The government has designed key programs such as “Nirbhaya Kadhi” (Fearless Bud) and “Mo Gelha Jiya” (My Dear Daughter) in Ganjam, “Kalpana Avijan” in Dhenkanal, “Swarna Kalika” in Keonjhar, and “Veerangana Yojana” in Deogarh district to empower adolescent girls.
- These initiatives focus on preventing child marriage, combating sex selection and female foeticide, promoting higher education, and building self-esteem and confidence through martial arts and self-defence.
Summary of all Programs:
Scheme Name | District | Objective | Key Achievements |
Nirbhaya Kadhi (Fearless Bud) | Ganjam | Create a just society for girls under BBBP | Reached 183,933 adolescent girls in 3,309 villages, raising awareness |
Mo Gelha Jhia (My Lovely Daughter) | Ganjam | Address sex selection and female foeticide | Contributed to Ganjam being declared child marriage-free on 3rd Jan 2022 |
Kalpana Avijan | Dhenkanal | Monitor adolescent girls (10-19 years) to prevent child marriage | Prevented 343 child marriages; enrolled 1,13,515 adolescent girls; 4,45,000 students pledged against child marriage |
Swarna Kalika | Keonjhar | Raise awareness on child marriage and promote the ADVIKA app | Involved over 2,000 stakeholders; reduced child marriages by 50% by 2024 |
Veerangana | Deogarh | Boost self-esteem and confidence of adolescent girls through martial arts | Trained over 500 girls in self-defense; developed 50 female master trainers to train 6,000 girls; won SKOCH Award |