Question : Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

(a) whether the Government has reviewed the performance of the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescents Girls, if so, the details and the outcome thereof

(b) the budgetary allocation along with the funds allocated/ released and utilized under the scheme during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT- wise;


(c) whether the Government proposes to extend the reach of the scheme to more districts in view of proposals/requests received from States/ UTs including Chhattisgarh in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether adolescent girls are provided with menstrual health assistance under the scheme and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has taken note that 56.2 per cent of adolescent girls are anaemic and suffer from other general health issues due to lack of education and social backwardness; and

(f) if no, the measures taken by the Government to spread awareness about female adolescent health in schools and communities under the said scheme?

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

(a) The Government is reviewing the performance of the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (earlier named as Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls) at regular intervals on a quarterly/annual basis to identify gaps for taking corrective measures. Monitoring committees are set up at all levels (National, State, District, Block and Village level) to take stock of the progress of the scheme as also strengthen the coordination and convergence between concerned departments.

(b) The funds allocated/ released and utilized under the scheme during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT- wise is at Annexure-1.

(c) the Government approved implementation of Scheme for Adolescent Girls for out of school girls in the age group of 11-14 years with its phased expansion so as to cover additional districts for a period of one year i.e. upto 30.11.2018. In 2017-18, the scheme has been extended to additional 303 districts including 17 districts in Chhattisgarh.


(d) menstrual health assistance to adolescent girls is provided under the scheme in the form of awareness/education on various health issues including menstrual health, use of sanitary napkins, maintaining personal hygiene and sanitation, reproductive and sexual health related issues etc

(e) & (f) Government is aware of the fact that as per NFHS 4, 53.0 per cent of women age 15-49 years are anaemic and steps are being taken to address this issue. One of the objective under the Scheme for Adolescent Girls is to provide Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation by establishing convergence with Health Department. Each out-of-school Adolescent Girl attending AWC is given one adult IFA tablets per week under the scheme . In addition, information on food fortification, dietary diversification, advantages of IFA tablets supplementation and its consumption with food is given to adolescent girls for combating iron deficiency. Other health related services provided under SAG include Health check-up & referral services, nutrition & Health Education.

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