Sonakali from Dewalikalan village now smiles with happiness when we ask her about her daughter’s health but a few months back she was under heavy depression. Her two-year three-month daughter Megha who was found Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) under the 2017 survey profiling.  The child was only weighted 5kgs with 11.5cm mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening.

Without wasting much time, the NHW convinced the mother and got Megha admitted in Khalwa nutrition rehabilitation centre (NRC). Sonakali is the only bread earner of the family after the demise of her husband. She doesn’t own any land and works on other’s farmland to meet her children’s daily needs. As a single parent Sonakali hardly managed time to take care of the children. It also led to withdraw the children from the Anganwadi services.

When the Sabal programme team realized the challenges faced by the mother the NHW counselled her and requested her to re-enroll Megha to the Anganwadi so that she can get more attention and care in her absence. Convinced mother without wasting much time got the child enrolled in the Anganwadi with the support of NHW.

Caritas India Sabal programme in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra is addressing the chronic malnutrition and hunger through its food and nutrition security initiatives.

Frequent home-visit and counselling from Sabal team and collective meetings attended by Sonakali helped her to improve her family dietary patterns. Despite her busy schedule, she managed to set up a nutrition garden and also drying of vegetables for future consumption.

Megha has overcome the danger of undernourishment and now leads a normal life.

“I learned how to prepare Sattu and also its benefits to children. I regularly prepare Sattu at home and feed the children. The children also love the taste. Sabal taught me the best child care practices. Setting-up of nutrition garden and sun-drying the green leafy vegetables and preserving for the future was taught by Sabal. I thank Sabal team for all the guidance.” Says Sonakali.