Initiative rolled out in Bastar, Dantewada to boost maternal, child nutrition

(Dantewada, December 6) Aiming to improve the nutritional status of mothers and young children, Rise Against Hunger India has launched its “First 1000 Days Initiative” in underserved areas of the tribal-dominated Bastar and Dantewada districts in Chhattisgarh. 

The initiative focuses on providing ready-to-cook nutritious meals, supplementary nutrition, hygiene kits and other services to pregnant and lactating women and to children up to the age 24 months. 

“Investing in the first 1,000 days is the most effective way to break the cycle of malnutrition,” Rise Against Hunger India CEO Dola Mohapatra said. The period from conception to a child’s second birthday, he said, is a crucial window for long-term development. “By providing nutrition support, clean water and access to healthcare, our teams are helping children grow strong and resilient,” he added. 

Citing studies by The Power of Nutrition, the organisation said that every USD 1 invested in nutrition yields USD 16, while reducing malnutrition can raise a country’s economic productivity by up to 11 per cent. 

Under the household-based initiative, 700 households across six panchayats in Dantewada and Bastar will be covered. Each household will receive a monthly supply of uncooked nutritious food, including chana and millet-based products. Children showing signs of faltering growth will be identified and provided with a specialised nutrition kit. 

Rise Against Hunger India also inaugurated a warehouse in Dantewada for packaging and distributing meals under the initiative. The event was attended by the organisation’s CEO, along with the Block Medical Officer, District Programme Coordinator and Programme Manager for Drug-Resistant TB. 

More than 80 volunteers from Bastar and Dantewada participated in packaging meals during the inauguration. To support smooth implementation, the organisation conducted a two-day training for over 100 volunteers on maternal and child health. 

Over the past decade, Rise Against Hunger India has served more than 40 million meals and reached 3.8 million people through its food security and livelihood programmes, working with grassroots NGOs, rural communities and humanitarian partners.