SABLA scheme launched for women empowerment in JK: Itoo

Jammu, Feb 6 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir governmenthas launched Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of AdolescentGirls (RGSEAG) in five districts of the state to empowerwomen, a state minister said here today.

While speaking at a function Minister for SocialWelfare Sakina Itoo said, "RGSEAG scheme, named as "SABLA",aims to empower adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18by improving their nutritional and health status, up-gradationof home, life and vocational skills.

"These girls will be equipped with information onhealth and family welfare, hygiene and guidance on existingpublic services. The scheme aims to bring back the dropoutschool girls into the mainstream either for formal ornon-formal education."

Expressing her concern over male-female sex ratioimbalance, she said, it breeds social evils, adding thatconcerted efforts need to be initiated to encourage birth ofgirls.

Sakina said that decline in female population willdestabilise demographic balance and lead to undesirablepractise of "trafficking" and "forced marriages".

The scheme is being implemented in 200 districtsacross the country. These districts have been selected on thebasis of a composite index, based on indicators relevant tothe condition of adolescent girls across the country.

The budget for this purpose will be shared equally bythe state and central governments, she said.