National Handicrafts Development Programme: Research & Development Scheme 2026

This scheme by the Ministry of Women & Child Development supports out-of-school adolescent girls (11-14 years) to Read More... improve their health, nutrition, and life skills, helping them transition back to school or gain vocational skills. Read less

Details

Many adolescent girls in India face challenges in continuing their education and accessing essential health and nutrition information. To address this, the Indian government has launched the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG). This program aims to empower young girls, especially those who are out of school, by providing them with the support they need to develop themselves and improve their overall well-being.

What Is The Scheme For Adolescent Girls (SAG)?

The Scheme for Adolescent Girls is a crucial initiative by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. It's designed to help out-of-school girls between the ages of 11 and 14 years. The scheme focuses on self-development, empowering them with knowledge, and improving their health and hygiene. It also aims to guide them on how to access government services and improve their life skills, making them more self-reliant.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is specifically for girls who are between 11 and 14 years old and are currently not attending any formal school. It’s a way to ensure these young girls don't miss out on essential development opportunities just because they are out of the mainstream education system.

Why Is The Scheme For Adolescent Girls Important?

SAG plays a vital role in the holistic development of young girls. By providing nutritional support, health check-ups, and life skill education, it helps prevent anemia, improves overall health, and equips them with knowledge about family welfare and childcare. It also guides them on accessing important public services like health centers, banks, and police stations, making them more aware and capable citizens.

Objective

This scheme by the Ministry of Women & Child Development supports out-of-school adolescent girls (11-14 years) to improve their health, nutrition, and life skills, helping them transition back to school or gain vocational skills.

Benefits

The financial assistance shall be extended to eligible organizations as 100% grants in aid.

The payments to all beneficiaries/concerned must be made through PFMS only.

The disbursement of the assistance will be in two installments:

a) 1st Installment: 75% of the sanctioned amount will be released as an advance.b) 2nd Installment: 25% of the sanctioned amount will be in the form of reimbursement.a) Financial Assistance for Conducting Studies/Surveys:

Head: Project Leader (1); Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹ per month): 50,000/-

Head: Senior Research Expert (2); Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹ per month): 35,000/-

Head: Junior Research Fellow (2); Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹ per month): 25,000/-

Head: Investigator [Graduate] (3); Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹ per month): 15,000/-

Head: Computer Operator (1); Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹ per month): 10,000/-

Head: Documentation & Videography; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 50,000/-

Head: TA/DA; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹ per month): 18,000/-

Head: Miscellaneous; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 5% of the total cost i.e., from (1) to (7).

Head: Administrative Charges; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 3% of total project cost (1) to (8).

b) Financial Assistance for One-day Seminar/Workshop:

Head: Halls & Infrastructure; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 60,000/-

Head: Boarding & Lodging for Resource Persons (Max. 4); Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 9,000/- per head

Head: T.A. to Resource Persons; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 12,000/- per person or AC-I/Air-Fare economy class whichever is less.

Head: For International Experts; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 70,000 /- per person or economy class airfare, whichever is less.

Head: Honorarium to Resource Persons; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 4,000/- per person

Head: T.A. to participants including journey period; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 2,000/- per participant/artisan or AC-III tier fare whichever is less.

Head: DA to the participants; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 300/- per participant/artisan

Head: Documentation & Videography; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 40,000/-

Head: Hiring of Conveyance; Maximum Permissible Amount (in ₹): 50,000/-

Head: Refreshments & Tea, Lunch, etc; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 400/- per participant/artisan

Head: Publicity including banners, backdrops, pamphlets, booklet, etc; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 65,000/-

Head: Miscellaneous; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 5% of the total cost, i.e., from (1) to (10).

Head: Administrative Cost; Max. Permissible Amount (in ₹): 3% of total project cost, i.e., from (1) to (11).

Note 1:The project duration of the Survey/Study can vary from 3 months to 12 months and the duration of the Seminar/Workshop is one day.Note 2:In special cases, the number of days and financial limit can be increased with special approval of the Competent Authority.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must be female.
The age of the applicant must be between 11 and 14 years.

How To Apply

The Scheme for Adolescent Girls is implemented through the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) as part of the ICDS Scheme. Your local Anganwadi Worker (AWW) will typically visit homes to gather details of eligible girls. Identification and registration are done at the local Anganwadi Centre.

For more details on the scheme guidelines, you can refer to the official documents available on the ministry's website.

Documents Required

Aadhaar Card
Proof of Age / Date of Birth (e.g., Birth Certificate)

FAQ’s

What is IFA Supplementation and why is it given?

IFA stands for Iron & Folic Acid. This supplementation is provided to help prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia, a common health issue. Girls receive information on fortified foods, dietary improvements, and the benefits of taking IFA tablets to fight this condition.

Can multiple adolescent girls from the same family apply for this scheme?

Yes, absolutely. If multiple girls in a family meet the age and eligibility criteria, they are all welcome to apply and benefit from the scheme.

Is there a fee to apply for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls?

No, there is no application fee. The entire process of applying for this scheme is completely free of charge.

How will I know if my district is covered under the SAG scheme?

You can find a complete list of districts covered under the geographical reach of the Scheme for Adolescent Girls in Annexures I and II of the official scheme guidelines. These are usually available on the ministry's website.

What is a Kishore Health Card and how is it used?

The Kishore Health Card is a record maintained at the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) for each adolescent girl. It tracks important health information like weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), and details of other services provided under the scheme.

I am 12 years old and live in a village. Can I apply for this scheme?

Yes, if you are 12 years old and are an out-of-school adolescent girl, you are eligible to apply for this scheme. Your local Anganwadi Worker will guide you.

Will my Aadhaar number be shared publicly if I provide it?

No, your Aadhaar number will not be made public. The Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) has clear procedures to ensure the information, including your Aadhaar number, is obtained with your consent and is password-protected according to their Standard Operating Procedures (SoP).

When do the general health check-ups for adolescent girls take place?

Health check-ups for all adolescent girls are organized at least once every three months. This often happens on a special day called 'Kishori Diwas', which may be combined with Village Health & Nutrition Day (VHND). Special sessions are organized focusing on adolescent-specific health issues.

Do I need to submit original documents when applying?

No, you do not need to submit the original copies of your documents. Photocopies of your Aadhaar Card and Proof of Age/Date of Birth are sufficient.

How can I confirm the authenticity of the information collected by the Anganwadi Worker (AWW)?

The Supervisor plays a key role in ensuring data accuracy. They are responsible for checking and authenticating about 20% of the entries recorded in the survey registers.

Where can I find the format for the baseline survey form?

The format for the baseline survey form is available within the annexures of the official scheme guidelines document.

Do I need to visit an Anganwadi Centre (AWC) myself to be registered?

Ideally, the Anganwadi Worker (AWW) from your locality should visit your home to collect the necessary details for registration. This makes it easier for girls to be included in the scheme.