RASHTRIYA KISHOR SWASTHYA KARYAKRAM
1. Introduction
- To unlock India's full potential and ensure a prosperous future, prioritising the health and nutrition of its adolescent girls is crucial.
- Adolescence is a pivotal period of cognitive development and improving access to nutrition during this phase compensates for any nutrient deficiencies acquired earlier in the child's development.
- Moreover, the health of adolescent girls significantly impacts women's long-term labour force participation, making nutrition interventions an opportunity to enhance India's demographic dividend.
2. Growing Nutritional Concerns
- Adolescent girls face a heightened vulnerability to undernutrition and anaemia, primarily due to the onset of menstruation.
- The findings of the National Family Health Survey-5 (2010-21) reveal alarming statistics, with 59.1 per cent of adolescent girls found to be anaemic.
- Additionally, over 41.9 per cent of school-going girls were reported as underweight in NFHS-4, highlighting a concerning trend.
- Various factors, including environmental conditions and gender-biased cultural norms within households, contribute to inadequate nutrition uptake among adolescent girls.
3. Current Gaps and Consequences
- While progress has been made through government initiatives, it is essential to acknowledge that existing health interventions do not adequately address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls.
- Neglecting their nutritional requirements can lead to cognitive impairments, lower academic performance, limited educational attainment, reduced employment opportunities and economic self-sufficiency.
- Undernourished adolescent girls also face a higher risk of chronic diseases and pregnancy complications, placing a greater healthcare burden on families and communities, potentially leading to financial instability and increased poverty.
- Furthermore, their overall well-being and participation in society may be hampered.
4. Redefining Interventions
- To address these challenges, interventions must prioritize good nutrition and adopt a life-cycle approach that ensures the inclusion of every girl.
- Investing in girls' nutrition can help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty as well-nourished girls are more likely to have healthy babies and provide better care for their families.
- Consequently, investing in girls' nutrition is not only a moral obligation but also an economic imperative, with potential returns in the form of sustainable economic growth.
5. Enhancing Existing Initiatives
- By integrating various government initiatives like the Scheme for Adolescent Girls under the Prime Minister's overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition Programme (POSHAN) 2.0, we can expand the scope and effectiveness of interventions.
- Strengthening awareness and nutrition education programs within schemes like Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) can ensure sustained beneficiary compliance.
- Targeted Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) efforts, tailored to regional contexts, will generate greater demand and adoption of good practices.
- Effective convergence and collaboration among relevant departments are crucial and routine training of health workers is necessary to implement and monitor schemes effectively.
6. Utilizing Evidence and Data
- A comprehensive narrative on adolescent girls' nutrition, highlighting its linkages with mental and physical well-being, individual productivity and overall economic growth must be developed.
- This narrative should be supported by evidence and data that resonate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, enabling actionable solutions.
- It is imperative to collect disaggregated data to facilitate effective interpretation and decision-making.
7. The way forward
- The discourse on adolescent girls' nutrition strives to protect and improve their nutritional status.
- Recognizing that this issue extends beyond health, it is an investment in India's future.
- Prioritizing the nutritional needs of girls can build a healthier, stronger nation where every girl can reach her full potential.
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For Prelims: National Family Health Survey, undernutrition, anaemia, POSHAN, Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram, Social and Behavior Change Communication, Adolescent girls
For Mains
1. Evaluate the current government interventions and initiatives aimed at addressing the nutritional needs of adolescent girls in India. Examine the effectiveness of these interventions and discuss the gaps or limitations in their approach. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5 does not include (UPPSC 2019)
A. High blood-pressure B. Diabetes C. HIV Test D. Registration of death
Answer: C
2. Which of the following is/are the indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? (UPSC 2016)
1. Undernourishment
2. Child stunting
3. Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1, 2 and 3 D. 1 and 3 only
Answer: C
3. Which of the following are the objectives of the 'National Nutrition Mission'? (UPSC 2017)
1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. 2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls, and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals, and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 2 only B. 1, 2 and 3 only C. 1, 2 and 4 only D. 3 and 4 only
Answer: A
4. Which one of the following is a basic method of effecting behavioural change? (UPPSC Combined State Exam 2021)
A. Communication B. Recording C. Optimal rest D. Rhythmic evaluation
Answer: A
5. Which one of the following schemes is aimed at all-round development of adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18 years and making them self-reliant? (UPSC EPFO 2016)
A. RGSEAG B. IGMSY C. NMEW D. RMK
Answer: A
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Source: The Hindu
