Odisha launches Advika, a new programme for adolescent girls

Bhubaneswar, Oct 11: On the occasion of the International Day of Girl Child 2020, the Department of Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti launched Advika, a new programme for the adolescent girls of the state. The programme was launched online by Tukuni Sahu, Minister Women and Child Development. Adivika, the programme is an initiative of the State for the development and empowerment of adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 19 years and will be implemented through the Anganwadi centres across the state. The Advika contains the Anganwadi Pocket Book, Pocket book for Adolescents, Multimedia Package, Kishori Kalender and Frequently Asked Questions. She also mentioned different the initiative’s that has been already implemented by the department. She mentioned that girls are the goddess on earth. We should respect, love and care them. Speaking at the launch event,  Anu Garg, Principal Secretary of the Department explained that Advika was a renewed commitment of the State government towards the adolescent girls. The programme is about building life skills among girls by exposing them to topics that are essential for them to deal with the day to day challenges of life. Adolescent girls, especially those out of school, generally come to the Anganwadi Centres to receive their nutrition supplements. Under Advika, all girls will gather at the Anganwadi centre to attend the learning sessions through an enjoyable way. Advika will also be a platform to connect girls to various government welfare programmes. A 12 months calendar of sessions is designed covering topics of Adolescent Sexual &Reproductive Health, nutrition, safety and well-being, rights and entitlements, gender-based violence, financial literacy, marriage and relationship. An interesting resource package consisting of short films frequently asked questions and key messages have been developed to make the sessions interesting for the girls. She also announced that a MIS to be developed for the tracking of Adolescent girls. Unlike the MCP card (Mother and Child protection card) , there will be “Kishori Card” which will record the BMI, Haemoglobin, sessions of training undertaken etc. This will help to know the health, nutrition and safety status of the adolescent girls in whole. Sujata Karthikeyan, Commissioner Mission Shakti mentioned that the large network of the women self-help groups can play a crucial role in creating an enabling environment for girls to survive and thrive by collective actions to challenge discrimination. She told that the SHG s will be the resource persons in Counselling the adolescents, Monitoring the dropouts, child marriage, Health and hygiene, sanitation and other protection issues.