Implementation of SABLA scheme in Manipur
- Part 1 -

Th Julia Kom *

In this modern world, one of the major requirements among adolescent girls is improvement regarding health, nutrition, menstruation hygiene, life skill etc. The term "adolescence" literally means "to emerge", "to mature". It is a significant phase of transition from childhood to adulthood. Biological, cognitive, moral as well as social development occurs during this period.

During this time we need to aware of and inform about various facets of life in order to promote a healthy ways of living. Awareness of health, nutrition and lifestyle related to behavior and Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) etc, need to position in this stage in order to improve the health status of adolescent girls and facilitate an easier transition to motherhood.

In the year 2010 the scheme called SABLA which is also commonly known as Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) was implemented across the country under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, which was implemented using the infrastructure of the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS).

Objectives of the scheme:

1) Enable self-development and empowerment of Adolescent Girls (AGs)
2) Improve their nutrition and health status
3) Spread awareness among AGs about health, hygiene, nutrition, Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH), and family and child care
4) Upgrade their home-based skills, life skills and vocational skills
5) Mainstream Out-of-School AGs into formal/non formal-education and
6) Inform and guide them about existing public services, such as Primary Health Care, Community Health Care, Post Office, Bank, Police Station, etc.


The scheme covered all the adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18 years under all ICDS project. The scheme focuses mainly to all Out-of-School-AGs who are enrolled in the Anganwadi centers and also the school-going AGs would meet the Anganwadi center (AWC) at least twice a month during holidays/vacations. To receive life skills education, nutrition and health education, awareness about socio-legal issues etc.

Location: SABLA Scheme was implemented under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, using the infrastructure of ICDS and Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) are the focal point to delivery of the services under the SABLA Scheme.

Services under SABLA Scheme: There are two major components under the scheme – a) Nutrition Component and b) Non Nutrition Component.

Nutrition Component: Take Home Ration or Hot Cooked Meal – this component is only for Out-of-School Adolescent Girls in the age group of 11-14 years and 14-18 years of both Out-of-School and School Going Adolescent Girls.

Non Nutritional Component: For Out-of-School AGs (2-3 times a week):
* In the age group of 11-18 years:
– Iron Folic Acid supplementation
– Health check-up and Referral services
– Nutrition & Health Education (NHE)
– Counseling and Guidance on Family welfare, ARSH, Child Care practices
– Life skill Education and accessing public services

* 16-18 years group:
– Vocational training under National Skill Development Program

For School Going AGs (twice a month – average):
* 11-18 years group:
– Nutrition & Health Education (NHE)
– Counseling and Guidance on family welfare, ARSH, Child care practices
– Life skill Education and accessing public services

Iron Foiic Acid (IFA) Supplement: State Government/UT concerned are established convergence with Health Department to ensure Adult Tablets of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) for each beneficiaries of SABLA. Out-of-Scheme AGs attending AWC should be given two adult tablets per week when they come to the AWC.

Today our Manipur State has nine Districts out of which only three (3) Districts are selected for the implementation of the SABLA Scheme as a pilot project by the Ministry of Woman and Child Development, Government of India under the infrastructure of ICDS. The SABLA Scheme was launched in the entire 3 Districts of Manipur through their respective Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) namely 1) Imphal West District 2) Senapati District and 3) Chandel District.

Under this pilot scheme 14 ICDS Projects were identified in Manipur. It is observed that 3,637 Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), 26,009 school going and 3,494 out-of-school Adolescent Girls (AGs) between the age group of 11-14 years, 29,014 school going & 6,113 out-of-school AGs between the age group of 14-18 years, total number of beneficiaries are 64,630 Adolescent Girls (AGs) were enrolled and 3025 Samoohs are round in the State under SABLA scheme during the year 2014-2015.

In Imphal West District, 3 CDPO projects namely – Imphal West-I, Imphal West-ll and Imphal City are identified. The number of the beneficiaries targeted under SABLA scheme during the years 2014-2015 in Imphal West District are as follows:-

Imphal West-I, 624 AWCs and 11,360 Adolescent Girls (AGs) i.e., 5,027 school-going & 280 Out-of-School AGs in the age group of 11-14 years and 5,657 School-Going & 396 Out-of-School AGs age group between 14-18 years are enrolled.

In Imphal West-ll, 569 AWCs and 8681 AGs were enrolled i.e. 3,491 School-Going & 342 out-of-school AGs in the age group of 11-14 years and 4,077 school-going & 771 out-of-school AGs age between 14-18 years are found.

In Imphal City, 704 AWCs and 11,859 AGs were enrolled, 4,633 school going & 126 out-of-school AGs age between 11-14 years and 6,848 school-going AGs & 252 out-of-school AGs in the age group of 14-18 years were found.

To be continued....