For the past few months, Namay Rona Dhikar has been serving as Poshan Mitra (Nutrition Friend) volunteer in the SABAL programme in Madhya Pradesh.

She sensitizes girls and lactating mothers about the importance of nutritious food for their healthy growth.

Though she is differently-abled, it did not stop her to reach out the community and sensitize them on food and nutrition security. She is a part of adolescent girls group at the village level formed under Caritas India Sabal programme supported by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the German Government and Caritas Germany.

SABAL works towards ensuring food security and enhancing the nutrition status of the Korku Communities in the Indian States of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. 60 villages of Khalwa block of Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh and 33 villages of Chikaldhara block of Amravati District, Maharashtra were selected for this programme.

Namay, before joining the SABAL programme believed herself a burden on her father, mother, two brothers, and a sister-in-law. She used to confine herself within the four walls of her house. Her inhibitions about her capability were cleared by SABAL partner staff of Jeevan Vikas Sanstha when he explained about the objective of the programme and convinced her that even after being differently abled she can do a lot for her community.

Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) was the most common form of malnutrition among Korkus is PEM, caused by the insufficient intake of protein food. The programme works towards increasing the quantity of meat, fish, egg, and oil in the diet of tribals through livestock promotion activities, especially with poultry, fisheries, and protein fortification activities.

Namay, who was supported by of SABAL programme, received two hens and a cock so that she could earn something from her backyard poultry unit and consume high protein food. Namay is very happy to be the Poshan Mitra Volunteer for the village, and she is even more happy about her backyard poultry unit.

Now, the hens have started laying eggs and hatched 9 chicks. Namay with her family has started consuming eggs of her own chicken.

“I sold 10 eggs in the nearby local market and earned a profit of Rs. 120”, says Namay. “Sabal has changed the perspective about my disabilities”, She added.

As a poshan mitra, she propagates the benefits of eggs and country chicken over broilers/hybrid chicken as a reliable source of high protein, which is essential for a healthy life.