To ensure yearlong dietary diversity for families, especially children and women, Caritas India’s Khushaal Bachpan program has launched a significant initiative called “Poshan Vatika” (Nutrition Gardens). This initiative, operating in five districts of Chhattisgarh (Raigarh, Surguja, Jashpur, Raipur, and Bastar), aims to improve nutrient deficiency among socioeconomically backward sections of the country.

Nutritional deficiencies are particularly found among rural populations due to a lack of awareness about the importance of fruits and vegetables in daily diets. The Indian government’s guidelines under the Ministry of Rural Development for the MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) promote the establishment of nutrition gardens as a sustainable, cost-effective solution to enhance food security and provide financial stability to rural households.

Recognizing this, Caritas India’s Khushaal Bachpan program, supported by Caritas Australia, has facilitated the establishment of nutrition gardens in 11 rural schools, 2 Anganwadis, and 44 households in Bastar district. The initiative aligns with the program’s mission to create an enabling environment for a Safe, Happy, and Dignified Childhood by ensuring easy access to children’s rights, including the right to nutritious food.

As part of this initiative, Khushaal Bachpan introduces Nutrition Guardians- the community champions especially the members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), health workers, and community members, provided vegetable seeds beneficial for children’s nutrition—such as radish, beans, ladies’ finger, ridge gourd, cucumber, bitter gourd, pumpkin, bottle gourd, coriander, leafy vegetables, and brinjal—were identified and distributed. These gardens will provide fresh vegetables for the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM Poshan, previously known as the Mid-Day Meal) in schools and for household consumption, ensuring an improved nutritional intake for children.

Santosh Kashyap, a Class VIII student from Cherakur Village, Bastar, shares, “We students are happy to start a nutrition garden in our school. We shall produce our food.”

The Poshan Vatika initiative not only supports but also complements the government’s efforts to improve child health through PM Poshan. This program aims to enhance the nutritional status of students in government and government-aided schools, encouraging greater school attendance and better focus on classroom activities among underprivileged children.

One of the program participant Urmila Baghel, from Kawdadgaon, Bastar, appreciates the program effort and says, “I received vegetable seeds from Caritas India which helped me to start a kitchen garden. I shall grow vegetables and feed my children.”

The vision of the school nutrition gardens extends beyond immediate nutritional benefits. It seeks to empower children with the knowledge and skills to make healthy lifestyle choices, thereby positively impacting their long-term health and nutrition status. Students learn the value of consuming fresh, nutrient-dense vegetables and acquire lifelong skills that will increase food security and enhance the nutrition of their families.

Caritas India’s Khushaal Bachpan program, through initiatives like Poshan Vatika, is making significant strides in ensuring a happy, healthy childhood for children in rural India. By fostering community engagement and supporting government efforts, Khushaal Bachpan is paving the way for a nutritionally secure future for the next generation.