Utthan fights malnutrition in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

587 man-days of MGNREGA work availed and Rs 1,12,582 was payment was ensured through the biometric system to the beneficiaries claimed partners of Utthan Programme in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The programme is working in 83 villages to empower communities by promoting good governance and sustainable socio agriculture system to address malnutrition.

Caritas India reviewed the quarterly progress of the programme from 8-9 May 2019 at XISA (Xavier Institute of Social Action), Raipur. The review also helped in building an understanding of the work completed by the partner along with new learnings for future perspective. The programme was attended by 26 participants from partners and Caritas India.

Impressive rapport building initiative has been seen in all the target villages with result-based interventions including gram sabha meetings, access to various entitlements, identification of malnutrition cases and mobilizing them to get admitted at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC) for better health care facilities.  Partners are also focusing on agricultural practices to promote agricultural techniques among tribal farmers to ensure food security to fight hunger. Malnourished children were successfully mobilised and sent to NRC centres for their recovery and around 2333 children below 6 years were enrolled in the AWC.

A record increase in the nutritional garden is seen in the project villages as it has created food diversity in their platter as well as the fulfillment of their nutritional need. 31 households in the programme areas have initiated kitchen garden for their nutritional supplement.

Focus is also given to the most marginalized section of the community for recognition and contribution in decision making processes at the various platform. The programme is able to submit 89 applications for various social security schemes and ensured 124 Job cards for the project participants.

The programme will focus its intervention in empowering community institutions (CBOs) and PRIs to have improved access to entitlements & Government flagship programs and enhance Food and Nutrition security through “On-Farm and “Off-Farm” initiatives.