Life Skills Development Training for Adolescent Girls at Risk-Rescued Devadasi Girls in Karnataka

Abstract

The positive evidences of life skills education among the young people in difficult circumstances have encouraged the researchers in imparting life skills education to the rescued devadasi adolescent girls in North Karnataka. The study was conducted in pre experimental research design without a control group of rescued devadasi girls by understanding their needs and gaps in life skills. The effectiveness of the programme was assessed using a standardized tool. 25 adolescent girls who were rescued from the devadasi system participated in the study. These girls were daughters’ of active devadasi women from Raichur, Koppal, Bellary and Bijapur. The girls were provided life skills education by the researchers.  Intervention programme was developed based on the 10 life skills laid out by the World Health Organization after integrating methodologies and contents specific to their life situation after a need assessment study using Life skills assessment scale. The results analyzed in SPSS version 18, indicate that the programme was effective and displayed statistical significance in rendering the participants with Life skills. The study intends to highlight the importance of developing tailor made life skills programme for vulnerable groups and girls at risk.