UTILIZATION OF ICDS ACTIVITIES AMONG SCHOOL DROPOUT OUT ADOLESCENT GIRL IN GWALIOR URBAN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Background: For the first time in India, the Department of Women and Child Development implemented an effort in 1991-92 to integrate 11-18-year-old school dropout girls in the ICDS scheme in 507 blocks across the country. With the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) as the focus medium for delivering services and improving the capacity of adolescents, this scheme aims on school dropout adolescent girls in the age range of 11-18 years to satisfy their requirement for health, nutrition, education and other life skill development. Objective: The study is designed to find out the different activities of programme and utilization under ICDS scheme are being implemented to prepare for school dropout adolescent girls to re-join at the school. Methods: The study is primarily focus on those school drop girls age between of 11-18 years who are registered in AWCs of Gwalior urban, subdivided into five blocks govern under ICDS scheme. 395 respondents (samples) are gathered by using random sampling. Data are collected from each respondent, through interview method (pre-tested questionnaire) and observation method. Results: Different activities are found to be organized for school dropout adolescent girls at the AWC, with majority of respondents 354 (89.62%) are found to be effectively participated in cultural and arts activities, 329 (83.29%) in home management activities and 246 (62.28%) in health issues and hygienic activities. Conclusion: The study strongly recommended that the activities be made more exciting and creative, which will make it simpler to learn and produce results more successfully, as well as ensuring that all of the beneficiaries participate in all of the activities.