SAG

The scheme aims to address malnutrition among adolescent girls through nutritional and non-nutritional support. Through this scheme, nutritional support, health services, nutrition education and skilling support are provided to adolescent girls aged 14-18 years in identified areas.

The scheme "Scheme for Adolescent Girls" has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, and aims to provide a structured support system for adolescent girls through a life cycle approach. The scheme is implemented under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 through the concerned States/Union Territories. The scheme covers adolescent girls in the age group of 14-18 years in identified areas, including Aspirational Districts of States and North-Eastern States. The services are delivered through the existing Anganwadi Centres and other linked platforms for reaching the beneficiaries.

> Objectives:

• To improve the nutritional and health status and self-development of girls in the age group of 14-18 years.
• To provide the adolescent girl with the required linkage with education, life skills, literacy and numeracy skills through the non-formal stream of education, to stimulate a desire for more social exposure and knowledge, and to help them improve their decision-making capabilities.
• To train and equip the adolescent girl to improve/upgrade other life skills.
• To promote awareness of health, hygiene, nutrition and family welfare, home management and child care and to take all measures, so as to facilitate their marrying only after attaining the age of 18 years and if possible, even later.
• To enable a better understanding of environment-related social issues and their impact on the lives of adolescent girls.
• To encourage adolescent girls to initiate various activities so that they may become productive and useful members of society.

• The applicant should be an adolescent girl in the age group of 14-18 years.
• The applicant should be identified by the concerned State Government.
• The applicant should belong to the covered areas under the scheme, including Aspirational Districts of States, including Assam and North-Eastern States.
• The applicant should have an Aadhaar number to avail benefits under the scheme.

> Nutritional Benefits:

• The applicant receives supplementary nutrition containing 600 calories, 18-20 grams of protein and micronutrients.
• The supplementary nutrition is provided in the form of Take Home Ration (THR).
• The benefit is provided for 300 days in a year.
• The Take Home Ration is prepared with fortified micronutrients as per nutritional standards.
• Age-specific processed food mixtures are labelled to ensure consumption by the targeted beneficiaries.
• Last-mile tracking of services is undertaken through Poshan Tracker.

> Non-Nutrition Benefits:

• Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation is provided.
• Health Check-up and Referral Services are provided.
• Nutrition & Health Education (NHE) is provided.
• Promotion of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls is ensured.
• Participation of adolescent girls is encouraged through the Peer Educator Programme for addressing adolescent issues and awareness about available services.
• Skill training is provided to generate livelihood opportunities for adolescent girls trained under the scheme.