THE INDIA NUTRITION INITIATIVE (TINI) PROJECT, DAUSA
Malnutrition in women and children is a significant public health challenge in India and not the least in Dausa district of Rajasthan. Project ‘Making it Happen’ was designed by the government of Rajasthan and The India Nutrition Initiatives of Tata trusts to strengthening the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) system and to improve the nutrition level in maternal, infant and young child. In addition to Dausa district, the program was also implemented in Alwar, Dholpur, Karauli and Tonk districts. Below presented data graph shows the status of maternal, infant and young child nutrition as given in NFHS4 for Dausa district at the beginning of the project interventions. In March 2020, a survey of the nutritional status of all children aged 0-3 years was completed in the project area; and compared with the growth standards adopted by the ICDS. CULP as a field support partner for Dausa district provided support for ensuring quality services under the program in the district and made a significant impact in improving the status of nutrition in the district.
Target / Objectives:
The aim of Making It Happen project was to bring sustainable improvement in nutritional status of children and women and to contribute significantly in reducing the rate of malnutrition. The project was designed to real time monitoring on both the supply and demand issues simultaneously, to improve the quality of services provided by ICDS and to increase demand for these services.
Source: Project Making it Happen, Rajasthan
1. Supply Side Interventions: The key objectives of the supply side interventions are:
• Capacity building of Anganwadi workers, Ashas, helpers, AWC beneficiaries, PRIs, Social Action Committee members, stakeholders and community members.
• AWC strengthening to provide a healthy and safe environment for children and other beneficiaries.
• Enhancing the activating services like MCHND (Maternal and Child Health & Nutrition Day), MCP Card (Mother-Child Protection Card) and SNP (Supplementary Nutrition Program).
• Special focus on early child care and education components of the ICDS.
2. Demand Side Interventions: The key objectives of demand side interventions are:
• Hygiene and sanitation: Behavior change mobilization on hand washing and cleanliness.
• Developing a communication package on maternal, infant and young child health.
3. Governance and System Strengthening: Major focus on data for improving governance, implementation, capacity building and providing basic infrastructure facilities of ICDS centers.
Components/Activities of the Project:
The major components of Making It Happen project till May 2020 were:
• Transformation of AWCs
• Support in Poshan Mela and PMMVY workshop
• 2282 Anganwadi workers and Ashas were trained on growth monitoring, MCP card and maternal and child health & nutrition day.
• 329 Social Action Committee members oriented on maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
• Almost 450 beneficiaries were facilitated by testing HB counts and nutrition advices in Anemia camps.
• 104 Sarpanches, 213 Village Development officers and 6 block level PRI members were trained on ICDS system, services providing at AWCs, Panchayat ke panch-sutra and Making it Happen program.
• 40 Chalo Chalein Anganwadi events, 120 community meetings and 240 community-based events were organized by CULP in which approximately 15800 target beneficiaries were facilitated.
• 4756 direct beneficiaries (PWs, LWs and 0-3 years children) were measured (height & weight) in Growth monitoring drive campaign and 2250 beneficiaries were measured in Village contact drive campaign.
• 320 wall paintings were done in 40 Anganwadi villages under Chalo Chalein Anganwadi campaign.
• 40 Suposhan Sakhis across the district learned to cook nutritious recipes in Diet Diversity program.
A transformed Anganwadi Centre
A transformed Anganwadi Centre
• Sector level Training of AWWs and Ashas
• Routine Visits at AWCs
• Rajeevika SAC Members Training
• PRIs Members Orientation
• Participation in MCHN days and CBE Events
• Community Meetings
• Poshan Rally and Poshan Picnic
• Growth Monitoring Drive
• Chalo Chalein Anganwadi Campaign
• Village Contact Drive
• Wall Paintings
• SAC Members Refresher Training
• Learning Corners, Kitchen Garden Development
• Diet diversity Orientation
• Growth Monitoring Orientation
Transformation of AWCs: Tata Trusts (TINI) has selected 40 AWCs in Dausa district and refurbished them by doing minor civil work and wall painting. Panchayati Raj institutions and community members were also helped or provided some basic facilities at some AWCs like water supply, functional toilets, drinking water and repairing work. Also, Tata Trusts provided 8 Shishu Desks, Tata Swachh water purifier, Dari, ECE learning material (9 charts, 51 books, pencils, sharpeners, blank papers, informatics toys for children) and anthropometrics equipment like two weight machines (Infant and Adults), Stadiometer and Infantometer.