Date: 3rd August 2023
There is need to ensure that the large adolescent population in India (253.2 million) reach their full potential and
productivity for the growth and development of the country. This idea is embedded in the launch of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) programme by the GoI, under the ‘National Adolescent Health Strategy’ in 2014, which recognizes the need for the holistic development of adolescents. RKSK is addresses the current and the anticipated needs of the adolescents in six priority areas- Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), nutrition, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), substance abuse, injuries and violence (including gender-based violence) and mental health.
Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3), a leading NGO, has been facilitating the implementation of RKSK in Bhadrak district of Odisha. Under the project intervention, 5,500 Peer Groups have been formed with adolescent boys and girls in the age group of 10-19 years, and 178 Adolescent Friendly Clubs have been formed whose members meet at Health Sub Centre of that area each month.
SIGMA Foundation conducted an “Endline Assessment of Strengthening Implementation of Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) Program In Bhadrak District, Odisha”. The study has been conducted in two districts of Odisha – Bhadrak (Intervention) and Kendrapara (Comparison), following a mixed methods approach, including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. From each district, four blocks were selected from where boys and girls in the age group 10 to 21 years were selected through a purposive sampling. 1,625 quantitative interviews were collected with adolescents (826 girls and 799 boys) and qualitative interviews include 8 FGDs, 27 IDIs and 4 case studies.
The report was submitted to C3 within the due date.