Lok Sabha Question No. 1697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-27
Subject: Scheme for Adolescent Girls
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1697

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2018

## SCHEME FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS

## 1697.   SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is implementing Scheme for Adolescent Girls in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the changes observed in nutrition and health status of Adolescent Girls (AGs) in the past three years under the said scheme;
- (c) whether sex education is given as part of the scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  menstrual  disorders  have  been  incorporated  into  the  health  status  and checkups under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  measures  taken  under  this  scheme  to  create  awareness  and  tackle  stigmas  and taboos about the girl child?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF  WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a) & (b):  Yes Madam, the Government is implementing Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG), a Centrally-sponsored scheme introduced in the year 2010-11 on a pilot basis in  205  districts  across  the  country  which  has  since  been    universalised    w.e.f 01.04.2018.

The Scheme aims at all-round development of out-of-school Adolescent Girls (AGs) of age 11-14 year and has two components Nutrition and Non Nutrition.  Under the Nutrition  component,  each  out  of  school  Adolescent  Girl  of  age  11-14  years  is provided  600  calories,  18-20  grams  of  protein  and  micronutrients  @  Rs.  9.5  per beneficiary per day for 300 days in a year. The non-nutrition component has built-in factor  to  motivate  out  of  school  girls  to  go  back  to  formal  schooling  or  skill training.   Nutrition  supplementation  along  with  promoting  awareness  about  health, hygiene,  nutrition  and  facilitating  access  to  learning  about  public  services  through various  interventions  has  positive  impact  on  the  nutrition  and  health  status  of adolescent Girls.

- (c): Sex Education is not imparted under the scheme.
- (d): General health check up of all AGs, at least once in three months is done on a special day  called  the  Kishori  Diwas  synchronized  with  Village  Health  &  Nutrition  Day

(VHND). In case of AGs having problems requiring specialized treatment, Medical Officers  refer  them  with  a  referral  slip,  to  the  District  Hospital  /  PHC  /  CHC  / Maternal  &  Child  Health  (MCH)  Sub-Centre.  All  referrals  are  followed  up  on  / tracked  on  the  next  Kishori  Diwas  or  VHND.  Awareness  on  various  health  issues including  menstrual  health,  maintaining  personal  hygiene  and  sanitation,  use  of sanitary napkins is also given to adolescent girls on this day.

- (e) To create awareness and tackle stigmas and taboos about the girl child Community mobilization to  garner  community  support  to  nurture  the  potential  of  AGs  is undertaken  under  SAG.  This  involves  conducting  community  mobilization  through community based structures  and  other  communication  activities  such  as  mid-media activities, kala jathas, street plays and others.

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