Kishori Shakti Yojana

Adolescents constitute nearly one fifth of the total population of the country. The significant aspect of adolescence is related to psychological developments which coincide with physical developments. These result in behavioural changes among adolescents which are substantially influenced by their respective socio-cultural milieu. Since adolescents do not have proper understanding of these changes they start distancing themselves from the adult world. Also the suddenness and the rapid pace with which these changes take place generate a number of problems and special needs which adolescence find it difficult to understand on their own.

Adolescence is a critical period of growth and development because it is a time of intense physical psychology and cognitive development. Growth is faster than at any other time in the individual life except in the first year. Increased nutritional needs at this juncture related to the fact the adolescents gain up to 50 per cent of their adult weight more than 20 per cent of their adult height and 50 per cent of their adult skeletal mass during this period. As adolescents go through the second growth spurt in this period it is crucial in this period it is crucial that they receive the required nutrients.

Department of Women and Child Development, Government of India, started Kishori Shakti Yojana implementation through ICDS department for adolescent girls belonging to most deprived sections of community. This project has been sanctioned to JSS Unnao with the following objectives:

• To generate awareness on health related issues such as reproductive health, safe motherhood, child survival, importance of immunisation, proper nutrition and personal hygiene
• To build confidence among adolescent girls so as to make them capable and effective member of Anganwadi Centres
• To provide life skill training for income generation so that they can develop as responsible and empowered adult
• To enhance awareness about safe motherhood and child survival

The project has two major components:

1. Awareness Creation for Health and Nutrition

As part of awareness creation, health services such as check-ups, immunisation and iron tables are made available to the adolescent girls with the active support of the Health Department in the guidance of concerned CDPOs of the district

2. Vocational Training

Vocational training is imparted to adolescent girls at different locations in the district. Largely the government facilities like block headquarters, panchayat bhawans, primary schools, etc., are used, but in some cases training space is also taken on rent. The focus of vocational training is on building capacity of girls in the age group of 11-18 years. It has been observed girls below the age of 15 drop out the formal schools and start getting ready for marriage from where their drudgery starts. Because of this, more emphasis is given to girls below the age of 15 years. Care is also taken to build the capacity of handicapped girls. Another focus is on the selection girls who are illiterates, neo-literates and with education below Junior high School.

Vocational Training

JSS, Unnao, is implementing a project for disadvantaged sections of the urban areas of Unnao to provide three months’ intensive training on chikan (a kind of embroidery) craft, zardozi (embroidery), cutting and tailoring, and mobile phone repairing. This project is being run with the support of District Urban Development Agency (DUDA), Unnao.

Child Labour School

Three child labour centres have been established by JSS, Unnao, at Talib Sarai, AB Nagar and Idgah areas of Unnao district for children withdrawn from hazardous works. In each of these centres 50 children below the age of 14 are admitted and taught through non-formal mode with condensed syllabus. Apart from education they are also provided pre-vocational and vocational training and age appropriate crafts. The children enrolled in these centres are so trained that they are able to attain education equal to 5th standard and are able to join formal stream of education in the 6th standard. During the training period they were also provided stipend, nutrition and mid-day meals.

For Completed Project, click here.