Lok Sabha Question No. 5655 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Holistic Development of Women and Adolescent Girls
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Zia Ur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5655

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026

## HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN AND ADOLESCENT GIRLS

## 5655. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  assessment  regarding  dropout  rates  among adolescent girls and access to skill training programmes  in  western  Uttar Pradesh;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  steps  taken  to  promote  education  continuity,  nutrition  support  and livelihood opportunities for girls in the said region;
- (c) whether similar gender-related challenges exist in other parts of the country; and
- (d)  if so, the details of national initiatives undertaken to ensure holistic development of women and adolescent girls in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) to (d):     In the 15 th Finance Commission cycle, components of nutritional support for children below the age of 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers and Adolescent Girls (14-18 years); Early Childhood Care and Education [3-6 years] and Anganwadi infrastructure including modern and upgraded Saksham Anganwadi have been reorganised under the umbrella Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) for effective implementation of the scheme.

Under  the  Mission,  a  package  of  six  services  are  provided  to  the  eligible  beneficiaries  i.e Supplementary Nutrition (SNP), Pre-school Non-formal Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization,  Health  Check-up,  and  Referral  Services.  Three  of  the  six services, viz., Immunization,  Health  check-up  and  Referral  Services  are  related  to  health  and  are  provided through National Health Mission (NHM) & Public Health Infrastructure.

Supplementary Nutrition under the Scheme is served for a minimum of 300 days in a calendar year, i.e., on an average 25 days in a month in the form of Hot Cooked Meals (HCM) and Take Home Ration.

Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) under Mission Poshan 2.0 aims to provide nutritional support to  Adolescent  Girls  (AGs)  [14-18  years]  for  improving  their  health  and  nutritional  status  in Aspirational Districts of all States and all districts of North Eastern States. There are two main components under the scheme. Under the nutrition component, supplementary nutrition containing 600 calories, 18-20 grams of protein and micronutrients is provided to adolescent girls in the age group of 14-18 years for 300 days in a year. The non-nutrition component is based on convergence with different ministries for IFA supplementation, health check-up and referral services, nutrition & health education, skilling etc.

MWCD in convergence with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing NAVYA  (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls),  a special pilot project for skilling of Adolescent Girls (AGs) in the age group of 16-18 years and passed secondary level of school education pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between MWCD with MSDE on 11 th  October, 2022 for bringing greater convergence in Skill Development Initiatives targeted at Young Girls especially in nontraditional skills.

Under NAVYA, 27 districts across 19 States and UT including Fatehpur and Sonbhadra districts of State of Uttar Pradesh have been selected for Skilling of Adolescent Girls (AGs). As on 20 th March, 2026, a total of 813 AGs have completed their training in various selected districts across the country. Regular monitoring of NAVYA project is undertaken through VCs and sustained engagements with States and UT concerned.

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