SABLA launched for North and East districts

GANGTOK, 14 July: The Social Justice, Empowerment & Welfare Department’s Women & Child Development Division launched the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA) in East and North district on Monday. Urban Slum ICDS Project, Gangtok also launched the scheme at a simple function held at Bhanu Gram (DPH Complex) ICDS centre here which had Gangtok Mayor KN Topgay.

Deputy Director ICDS (HQ), Normit Lepcha, in her introductory speech, highlighted the salient features of the scheme and stressed that adolescent girls required proper guidance and care during this period. SABLA provides this guidance but will require the proactive involvement of adolescent girls to deliver the right results, she said.
In his address, the Mayor welcomed the scheme as an apt programme, highlighting that adolescent girls were the future of Sikkim and deserved special attention. The adolescent period is one of confusion so proper guidance was necessary and parental guidance alone is not sufficient, he commented.
“ICDS centres are the best centres of guidance, so every adolescent girl should visit the ICDS centre from time to time,” he urged.
The Mayor also appealed to the adolescent girls to dispose empty packets of chips and other junk foods and plastic bottles only in bins provided by GMC across town. He urged them to make this a habit and also teach their siblings, friends and parents to dispose waste more responsibly.
He also promised all possible help to all ICDS centres which fall under the Gangtok Municipal Corporation.
During the function, Mixed Rice Flake [a supplementary food for adolescent girls] was launched by the Mayor and sanitation kits were also distributed among the adolescent girls in attendance.
The programme was also attended by Arithang Ward Councilor Asish Rai, former Panchayats, officials from the Department, Anganwadi Workers from various ICDS centres and Adolescent Girls from in and around Gangtok.