Women Empowerment and Adolescents

Associated with State drive of swasthya Cheta Yatra: We have joined hand with state driven campaign of Chetana Yatra and Abhiyan in Baran ,Tonk and Bikaner districts.

Reproductive and Child Health ,BCC & Adolescent Health : Bikaner district of Rajasthan is one of the backward desert district in terms of female education 27.03 ,heigh decadal growth rate 42.70 ,IMR 162 and the population served by medical facalities is about 44.43%.Sex ration in the district is 885 .Thestatus of women and adolescent girls in miserable. The marriage age of girls in the district is around 15 years and female by the age of 19-20 years become mother of 3-4 children. The risk to mother and child is more in the area ; suffer from anemia ,malnutrition amongst children ,lack of health care of self and the children.

We had initiated and integrated project on Reproductive & Child And woHealth . The project titled "Behavior Change Communication on Reproductive & Child Health & Adolescent" in cluster of 50 villages in Kolayat block of Bikaner district. The project aimed at changing Knowledge ,Attitude and Behavior/practices on health and Reproductive and Child health.Adolescent health so that demand and acceptance of health and reproductive health can be increased substantially.The key achievements are :
Formation of Village Level Institution viz.Gram Swasthya Samuh(GSS) in each village.The GSS were made responsible for identification and immunization of children and pregnant mothers.
Awareness about importance of complete immunization of infants and antenatal check-up of pregnant mothers among village community has increased significantly.
Percentage of infants immunized against siz killer diseases has increased considerably . The children vaccinated with BCG percentage rises from 30% (Basline) to 71% . Similarly,doze  of OPV & DPT increased from 22% & 16% to 66% & 57%.
There has been increase in percentage of deliveries being performed by trained medical personnel/trained dais and institutional delivery .(i.e. from 9% to 11%).The increase in percentage was comparatively low because the villages under the project was of 'C' catagory , inaccessible areas,absence of health functionaries , less number of trained dais in the project villages and less accessibility to health care facalities.
There has been increase in the awareness amongst adolescent about HIV/AIDS.
The Village level institutions were active and were provisding support to health functionaries & AWC.

Child marriage is closely associated with no or low level of schooling especially for girls: In Rajasthan ,especially in rural areas ,parents frequently arrange marriages for their wards without their input or consent. The views of bride or groom are ignored , particularly those involved are under age .Poverty leads many families to withdraw their daughters from school and arrange marriage for them at young age.CDECS has an opportunity to work in prevention of child marriage in the Kolayat Block of Bikaner district and Newai Block of Tonk district with support from State Women Commission . The major activities were Block level workshop of PRI's and BLOs,Gram Panchayat level meetings,Village level meetings ,Rally ,Slogan writing ,etc.Some visible impacts of intervention are stated hereunder.
Participation of community especially women ,adolescent girls and boys in village level marriage.
Helped in creation and setting of conducive environment in future on the issues of child marriage.

Participation of BDO ,Panchayat representatives and other block officers in Block level workshop on child marriage.
Better understanding and awareness among Individuals,family ,community and Panchayat representatives about ill-effects of child marriage.
Children ,adloscent and teachers participated in rallies and village meetings and had talks on the issues of child marriage.
Developed better understanding on the issues of Health ,RCH by adolescent and the parents.
Gram Panchayats felt that it was an important area for action on Child marriage should take place at right age - 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys.
family /Community to a greater extent ensured that their son/daughter going to marry has attended right age of marriage.
Focus on child tracking and nutritional survellance in limited locations.
The Project leads to improvement in the system of monitoring and followup.
Coordination with ICDS Blocks and district DD office for management of malnutrition.
Reduction in the number of children suffring from malnutrition - normal grade of children increased from 31 percent (March 05) to 36 percent (0-3 years children) and 39 percent (3-5 years children) in December 2006.
Facilitating Institutional delivery.
Bribging back the dropout and un-enrolled girls children to formal schools.
Life skill education to adolescent in the Schools and community and educating them on AIDS/HIV.
Addressing the problem of Girl Adolsecent who are out of the school/left schooling.

Women were mobilized into SHGs:  about 10 SHGs have been supported and they are functioning well for social and economic development .SHG has also taken up economic activity related to iodized salt,semi-precious stones drilling and making ornaments and Mid day meals etc.
Participation of Women PRIs in prepration of 11th5 Year Plan at Village ,gram Panchayat and Block level.