Itanagar: The Centre’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative has significantly reduced school dropout rates among girls in Arunachal Pradesh, according to Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul.
Speaking at the Beti Janmotsav event in Roing, Lower Dibang Valley district, to mark the scheme’s 10th anniversary, Pul highlighted the impressive decline in dropout rates from 30.89% in 2019-20 to 12.5% in 2021-22 at the secondary and higher secondary levels.
Pul also commended the state’s progress in improving the sex ratio, with 14 out of 25 districts achieving ratios of over 900 females per 1,000 males in 2023-24.
Arunachal Pradesh’s overall sex ratio now stands at 948.68 females per 1,000 males, surpassing the national average of 930.
Notably, five districts — Shi Yomi, East Kameng, Kamle, Upper Siang, and Tawang — recorded sex ratios exceeding 1,000 during the same period.
The minister further pointed to advancements in maternal and child health, citing improvements in first-trimester antenatal care (ANC) registrations.
Pul stressed the importance of raising awareness about the risks of girl child trafficking and urged parents to play an active role in ensuring their children’s safety and well-being.
She also highlighted recent government initiatives aimed at enhancing child welfare, including prioritising intra-district and intra-state adoptions, creating contractual positions to support women and child helplines, and allocating funds for working women’s hostels.
