Vol. 10, Special Issue 4 (2021)

Author(s):
Preety Rani

Abstract:
The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme launched by the GOI in August, 2004 for setting up residential schools at upper primary level for girls belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, OBC, Minority and other BPL communities in difficult areas. The scheme is being implemented in EBBs of the country where the female rural literacy rate is below the national average and gender gap in literacy is above the national average. Adolescent age is the transition phase of growth and development between childhood and adulthood. It is a distinctive developmental stage of life. This age group is unique in terms of their intellectual, social, emotional and physical development. The present investigation was carried out in Ranchi district of Jharkhand state to study the information seeking behavior and media exposure of KGBV adolescent girls. The sample size comprised of 120 adolescent girls who were selected by random sampling technique. The data were collected from the respondents by using pre tested interview schedule through personal interview. Scale developed by Agosto and Hassell - Hughes (2006) was used to study information seeking behavior and self-developed schedule was used to study media exposure i.e. how frequently they utilize it, among the adolescent girls. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents had low level of media exposure. Teachers were the primary source of information with 82.50% in daily life routines information need areas. As much as 94.17% respondents marked teachers as primary source of information in academics. Family was the main source of information in area pertaining to social life activities with 70.83%, followed by teachers with 53.33%. Further, in the area of emotional health family and friends were the major source of information with of 83.33% and 72.50% respectively. Considering the fashion aspect, the family (75.83%) was the major source of information, followed by friends (70.83%).print media and new media contributed equally as information source for getting information with 67.50%. In the area of Health, the teachers with 77.50% were marked as the primary source of information, followed by new media (60.83%).