The SABLA-Kanyashree Joint Convergence Programme was launched with the aim to strengthen monitoring, supervision and capacity building of the adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years (school going and school drop outs) for their appropriate development and empowerment. As designed in the project, the empowerment of the adolescent girls is envisaged as :

  • Continued education for girls
  • Prevent early marriage, trafficking, anaemia and malnutrition
  • Reduce vulnerabilities of girls by empowerment (decision making ability, creation of assets, self-esteem, institutional exposure)
  • Value enhancement of girls within household and community
  • Integrate Kanyashree and Sabla for achieving maximum results
  • Livelihood enhancement through various skill sets

In Purulia 1, the project aims to reach out to nearly 9104adolescent girls enlisted in 186 AWCs. Considering the above face of empowerment, following are the key accomplishments against the major activities / deliverables during the implementation period of the last 6 (six) months i.e. 1st Sep’2015 to 31st Mar’2016: 

  1. Strengthening field level monitoring and follow up at the AWC/village level by engaging existing NGO partners
  2. TOT of CESR staff / Supervisors & AWWs on Integrated Training Module
  3. Monthly meetings of KishoriSamooha(Adolescent Girls Group) at all AWCs on different issues on adolescent empowerment process using LGG Module / Sabla Training kits.

      Following is a month wise coverage of girls in the projected area as covered by the CESR:

Month

No. of AWCs Covered

No. of IN School AGs

No. of Out of School AGs

Total

No. of KP Beneficiaries

11-14 yrs

15-18 yrs

11-14 yrs

15-18 yrs
Oct’2015 52 928 1016 47 129 2120 694
Nov’2015 76 1200 1076 106 224 2606 786
Dec’2015 58 967 915 31 125 2038 421
Jan’2016 28 377 358 7 18 760 163
Feb’2016 59 720 712 11 33 1476 222
Mar’2016 34 364 414 3 16 797 180

 

 

With respect to the above, the related activities undertaken during the reporting period are as follows:

      1. Exposure visit: For holistic development of the AGs, confidence building and general awareness, exposure visits were conducted at different public institutions. The field team with prior information, arranged these visits. During the reporting period 3 nos. of AWC visited Panchayat office, 2 nos. of AWC visited Anwesha clinic & PHC and one AWC visited post office. At Anwesha clinincs the girls were informed about the services available to address their mental and physical problems. Similarly, at the Post Offices, the girls were informed about the various savings schemes available for them in order to develop a pro-savings attitude. Each of the public institute helped the girls to develop a frame of mind which is very supportive in their development.
      2. Kishori Diwas celebration: is a health awareness day where the girls were provided basic services like BMI, Hb test, distribution of IFA/deworming capsules and individual counselling. This is to be done in every quarter with special focus on school drop outs. With support from the health department, on 3rd March 2016, Kishori Diwas was celebrated throughout the district. An overwhelming turnout was observed as depicted by the outcome of the event with active support of ground level health staff, ICDS staff and NGO personnel. A total of 247 nos. of out of school AGs have been done free health checkup at SC level by CESR.
      3. IFA / de-worming tablet consumption: Girls consuming 4 IFA tablets successively, either received from school or AWC were being recorded. Mixed responses have been received from different blocks since the distribution was irregular.

 

Month No. of AGs consumed IFA capsules/tablets for at least 04 weeks No. of AGs consumed  de-worming tablets for at least 04 weeks
Oct’2015 0 0
Nov’2015 230 358
Dec’2015 398 1133
Jan’2016 318 472
Feb’2016 744 836
Mar’2016 262 220

 

      1. Updation of Sabla Registers and KishoriCards : the field staff on their visit to the AWCs are providing handholding support to the AWWs for updating the Sabla Registers with them. The same is being reflected in the Sabla MPRs during month end. Along with, the AGs have been provided with the Kishori Cards. The individual records of the girls with reference to the benefits received during the programme period are recorded in the Kishori cards.
      2. Participation of Girls in District Sports:On 12th March 2016, nearly Purulia -1,  19 girls  participate in different sporting events. Their whole-hearted participation and enthusiasm made the day for the girls. 
      3. Legal awareness camps: In association with the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), legal awareness camps were organized at Block community hall Purulia 1 blocks. Girls were made aware of the available legal services in the district along with the provisions in law against child marriages, domestic violence, child labour, dowry etc. Along with they were also informed about the initiation of Sabla-Kanyashree convergence programme. Land as a means of empowerment was also discussed with the girls. Nearly 30 AGs, and 8 AWWs from 8 GPs participated in the camps. The sessions were taken by Mr. Rohan Sinha, Secretary DLSA alongwith DPO (ICDS) and Landesa representative. Also present in the camps wer respective BDOs, Sabhapatis, elected representatives, CDPOs and Supervisors.

 

  1. Regular convergence review meeting at State and District level on Sabla, Kanyashree RKSK and WIFS.
    1. Participation in Sector meeting: the field staff has taken the opportunity to share the progress made during the month in the GP wise sector meetings. The team shared the outreach, attendance rates, upcoming programmes, work plan for the coming month etc. with the Supervisors and the AWWs. The AWWs also shared their feedback on the girls participation and programme feedback. The AWWs responded that the joint convergence programme has helped the girls in coming out of their shield, sharing their personal issues, getting a platform for the same and understanding how to  make their future better. 
    2. Meeting of DLCC: Only two (2) meeting could be conducted during the reporting period. Monthly progress, areas of concern and its redressal, implementation methods, review of the programme, NGO performance review were discussed.

 

Challenges:

    1. LGG sessions are being conducted prior to school hours so that both school and non-school going girls can participate in it. Since this timing is prior to the AWC timing, the AWWs are expressing difficulty.
    2. More concerted efforts towards involvement of out-of-school AGs is required.
    3. The review meetings at different levels i.e. CDPO-NGO staff meeting at blocks, DLCC meeting at the district, meeting with CDPOs needs to be regularized to address the resulted gaps.
    4. Distribution of RTE among the Adolescent Girls is yet to reach / regularized. Similarly is the case with refreshment among the AGs once in a month during monthly meetings.
    5. Livelihood trainings for the AGs with focus on Land based livelihoods need to be regularized by leveraging support from the existing resources of the relevant Govt. departments.
    6. Involvement and coordination of other line departments like education and health is required.

 

Key Learning:

The key to success of the programme lies in integrating the various available resources within the Govt. For better implementation of the programme and the impact to be visible, more ownership of the programme is to be taken by different stake holders.  Capacity development of the AWWs needs to be continued. The meetings at different levels need to be regularized. The district review and monitoring system needs to be revitalized.