An interactive voice response system (IVRS) that aims to provide information about government-sponsored programmes that skill adolescent girls in Delhi and Jharkhand became operational Wednesday.
A phone-based facility, the IVRS seeks to give information on aspects of health, hygiene, nutrition, adolescent reproductive and sexual health (ARSH) and other skill-generating services offered by Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA).
It works on a call return method, where a caller would first leave a missed call on the IVRS number. Subsequently, the system would call back and offer a menu of entitlements under the SABLA program.
With its second component, the girl could leave a qualitative feedback about her experience with SABLA services, ensuring accountability on part of the officials delivering them.
SABLA, launched in 2010, is a union government programme to improve the nutritional and health status of adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18 years and empower them by providing education in life-skills, health and nutrition.
The IVRS was launched at Youth Connect: Leveraging Technology for Young People, a national learning conference to showcase innovations for skill development by leveraging technology that was organized by Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3), an NGO for youth empowerment.
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"The aim of the conference was to feature such innovations developed by bright young minds that have made a difference at scale and demonstrate immense potential. The launch of the IVRS for SABLA services was a step in that direction," said Aparajita Gogoi, executive director, C3.
In order to avail the services, the beneficiaries can give a missed call on 9250500444 for Delhi and 9250500111 for Jharkhand.