SABLA to empower adolescent girls with better health launched from Singtam

SINGTAM, 11 July: The Social Justice, Empowerment & Welfare Department launched SABLA – the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls - here today. SABLA includes a complete nutrition programme for adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years. There are two major components under the scheme: one, a nutrition component for ‘out-of-school girls’ in the age group of 11 to 14 years and for ‘all the girls’ in the age group of 14 to 18 years, and second, non-nutrition component for ‘out-of-school’ adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years and a vocational training for girls in the age group of 16 to 18 years.

The launch ceremony, held at the Marwari Dharmasala here, was organized by the Women & Child Development Division of the Welfare Department and had East Upadhakshya Asha Bhusal as chief guest.
Around 120 women representing different Self Help Groups, NGOs, Aganwadis and ICDS Centres attended the function. 
The CDPO, Singtam Rural Project, GM Subba, explained the SABLA scheme and other schemes aimed at the welfare of adolescent girls like the Kishori Shakti Yojana which was started in Sikkim in the year 2000 and a nutritional supplement scheme also in place. He detailed that adolescent girls have been divided into two age-groups for SABLA, 11 to 14 years and 15 to 18 years.  These adolescent girls will be provided with the nutritional supplements and snacks as mid-day meals at ICDS Centres.
The Deputy Director, Nutrition Cell, Samita Thapa, highlighted the importance of proper nutrition for adolescent girls stressing that if adolescent girls overlook the need for proper meals and vitamins at this age, they could suffer poor health in future, affecting not only them, but also the children they bear later. Ms. Thapa informed that the mid day meal provided under SABLA scheme contains 100 grams of Chura, 20 gm chana, 13 gm soya bean, 10 gm of badam, 18.4 gm proteins, 119.5 gm of calcium etc. 
The chief guest also launched the mid-day meal packet prepared for adolescent girls.
Suk Maya Sherpa, Councilor, Singtam Nagar Panchayat, in her address, stressed the need for proper guidance for adolescent girls and informed the gathering about the increase in government grants for expecting mothers on delivery from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 3,000.
The function was also addressed by the Sumin Lingzey Zilla Panchayat and concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Supervisor, AC Tamang.