Project Nourish

Community-Based Early-Childhood Nutrition Intervention

Project Nourish

Astitva’s community-based nutrition initiative focused on improving the health and growth of children under five years of age, as well as antenatal and postnatal mothers in tribal and rural communities of the Nilgiris. The project addresses malnutrition through regular growth monitoring, daily intake of High Calorie Cereal Milk (HCCM) as a locally appropriate nutrition supplement, and continuous nutrition awareness for mothers and caregivers. Trained community motivators from within the villages play a key role by conducting home visits, supporting HCCM adherence, monitoring child growth, and reinforcing healthy feeding practices. Working closely with Anganwadis and the public health system, Project Nourish strengthens early-life nutrition practices and builds sustainable, family-level change.

Achievements

80%

Among children previously classified as severely wasted, 80% demonstrated significant improvement and transitioned out of this critical nutritional status.

79%

Among children previously classified as moderately wasted, 79% demonstrated significant improvement and transitioned out of this nutritional status.

76%

76% of mothers in our program who were receiving antenatal care delivered babies at a healthy weight of 2.5 kgs and above.

72%

Among mothers who received post-natal care through our program, 72% of their children showed significant improvement and recovered from malnourishment.

512

Children under the age of 6

Expectant

Mothers

Hamlets Across Nilgiris

Interventions

Supplementary Feeding

Medical

Intervention

Awareness

Program

I. Supplementary Feeding

High-Calorie Cereal Milk (HCCM), a well-researched and thoroughly tested nutritional solution formulated by CMC Vellore Medical College to tackle malnourishment.

To a cup of boiling water, add 2 tsp of milk powder, 2 tsp of jaggery powder, 3 tsp of fine rice powder, and cook till you get a porridge-like consistency. Switch off the fire, add 1 tsp of coconut oil, and mix well. Feed this porridge to the malnourished (low weight/low height) child twice a day, and if there are no underlying health conditions, you will see the results very quickly. This can be had by anyone of any age to put on weight.

II. Medical Referals

Comprehensive health assessments are conducted for children, expectant mothers, and nursing mothers. When necessary, these individuals are referred to specialised healthcare facilities for further evaluation and treatment.

III. Awareness Program

Our awareness program teaches children's primary caregivers about the vital role of early childhood nutrition. We use a comprehensive, tailored curriculum designed specifically for our target population.

Our Last-Mile Model

Our dedicated community workers ensure that the identified children, expectant and lactating mothers are fed with HCCM (High-Calorie Cereal Milk), at prescribed amounts, throughout the course of the feeding (12-months). These workers not only provide the supplements to the participants in the Anganwadis, but will also go door-to-door to ensure last-mile connectivity.