Why Karnataka HC's Call 'Beti Bachao, Beta Padhao' Is The Need Of Hour?

On December 12, the  High Court of Karnataka seized control of a distressing incident in Hukkeri Taluk, thrusting it into the spotlight. The incident involved the alleged stripping and assault of a 42-year-old woman. As the court session unfolds, the High Court brazenly exposes the inadequacy of the widely hailed  slogan 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.' It vehemently contends that the true imperative lies in educating and guiding the boy child with a resounding 'Beta Padhao,' aiming to cultivate profound respect and protection for women.

Against the backdrop of recent headlines screaming about the atrocities faced by women at the hands of men who believe they stand above them, the Karnataka High Court's bold stance reverberates with urgency. It asserts the imperative need for a paradigm shift, emphasizing the cultivation of a 'Beta Padhao' ethos as the linchpin for societal transformation. The courtroom's resolute call for collective responsibility emerges as a clarion call for change in the face of escalating gender-based violations.

The court said, "It is not 'beti bachao, beti padhao'. It is 'beta padhao', to save the girl child. Unless you tell the boy child, you will not be achieving it. The girl will naturally be respectful to the other lady. It is for the boy to be told to respect and protect the lady."  Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale, heading the division bench, emphasized that unless the boy child is educated on these principles, achieving the goal of safeguarding the girl child is unattainable.

The high court's statements indeed resonate with the situation we are currently dealing with. In our society, no matter how many rules and regulations are drafted to protect women, men commit crimes fearlessly. Just today, I reported about a man giving triple talaq to his wife, even though the practice is banned in India. Moreover, a few days ago, a man abducted, raped, and murdered a 9-year-old girl. A woman was beheaded by her husband over a delay in serving tea. These cases are, sadly, not limited. They show that men do not fear the law when it comes to torturing women. All they have in mind is their superior position and how they can use it to dominate women. 

It is this patriarchal mindset that makes society a silent spectator of the fight against women. People consider crime the fate of women and hence normalise it. 

So the problem is with the mentality, and the solution lies in the efforts to change it. Beta padhao is a very important statement because it is through proper education that the patriarchal mindset can be tackled. Yes, even educated men do indeed commit crimes. But this shows the need to focus on training the mindset of society as a part of imparting education. Since patriarchy is a common problem, it should be taken seriously and eliminated through urgent efforts, and the solution, the court contends, lies in transforming this mindset through education.