New Delhi: The government on Friday decided to release Rs.1.62 billion to improve the health condition of adolescent girls.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its approval for continuation of the nutrition programme for adolescent girls (NPAG) in the 2008-09 fiscal in 51 districts on a pilot basis.

Under NPAG, all under-nourished girls in the 11-19 age group would be covered, irrespective of their family's financial status.

Two cut-off weights - 30 kg for those below 15 years of age and 35 kg for over 15 years of age - would be used for identifying the beneficiaries, the CCEA said. Food grain at BPL rates (Rs.6 per kg) would be provided to these beneficiaries.

Besides subsidised food grain, these beneficiaries would get "nutrition and health education" and "regular health check-up and referral services, if required".

With the implementation of this project, it is expected that the nutritional status of the adolescent girls in the selected districts would improve, the CCEA added. IANS