Patna, June 22: A state-level consultation programme was organised today to address health and education issues of adolescent girls. The event laid stress on empowering adolescent girls by making it an issue of development.
Anshuli Arya, the chairperson of Women Development Corporation, appreciated the method of “teaching through playing”, which was adopted while training around 6,500 adolescent girls on issues of health and education at Maner and Dalsinghsarai in Patna and Samastipur districts respectively.
“After the training was completed, 40 of them became master trainers, who can now train other girls. The girls were trained under Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojana,” she said.
She said the girls are explained various aspects of hygiene and education through various programmes. “They are told how to maintain hygiene and what food to save them from various diseases. During the programmes, the girls are also taught about the various parts of their body and different ways to remain healthy,” she said.
Arya said: “The method of teaching through playing was an innovative idea. The state government is about to start the Sabla project that refers to health, hygiene and also life skills. These trainings will be imparted to the girls at the various anganwadi centres.”
She added: “According to National Family Health Survey-3, 64 per cent adolescent girls are married in Bihar at a tender age, which is the highest in the country. The rate of domestic violence is also the highest in the country. Eighty per cent adolescent girls in Bihar suffer from anaemia.”
Dr Farhat Saiyed, a nutrition specialist from the Unicef, said: “Malnutrition and Anaemia are the two challenges in Bihar. There are 60 lakh adolescent girls in Bihar. It needs to be ensured that they are not only free from various diseases but that they also get proper education as a result of which drop-outs should reduce.”
The daylong event was organised by Women Development Corporation. Some of the girls, who are being trained by the corporation, also turned up at today’s event.
