Development of Rural Adolescent Girls through Scientific and Social Engineering and Skill Development

Adolescence is the age of physical and mental development, emotional transition, curiosity, energy, creativity and desire to learn. In developing countries like India, there are strong culturally driven social biases, which deprive adolescent girls of educational opportunities and full expression of genetic potential. Families view girls as burden due to the oppressive dowry system and tend to reject them from birth, and even eliminate them resulting in low sex ratio. Early marriage and child bearing, stunts their physical and mental growth, and adversely impacts their health and nutrition. It is an insidious form of child labour. With proper nurturing and empowerment, adolescent girls can become a valuable human resource for nation building. As future mothers they can be good agents of change. India has a high burden of under-nutrition, particularly in children, adolescence and pregnant and lactating women, primarily due to inadequate diet.