Context

• Koraput, a district in Odisha, is a region of breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity, it also suffers from persistent poverty and high levels of undernutrition.
• Despite the presence of various government schemes aimed at improving food security and livelihoods, malnutrition remains widespread.
• According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21), a staggering 43% of children under five in the district are stunted, and 33% are underweight.
• Moreover, only 17% of children receive an adequate diet, and over 50% of women are anaemic; given these alarming statistics, it is crucial to examine how the local community can take ownership of its nutrition security.

The Community-Based Nutrition Literacy Model

• The Community-Based Nutrition Literacy Model implemented in Koraput by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).
• It was designed to empower tribal communities by enhancing their understanding of nutrition and equipping them with the skills to make informed dietary choices.
• The model was rooted in the principle that sustainable solutions to undernutrition must emerge from within the community itself, rather than relying solely on external aid.
• It emphasised nutrition-sensitive agriculture, dietary diversity, hygiene, sanitation, and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices.

Approach Taken by MSSRF

• Awareness and Self-Assessment
  • The first step in implementing the model was to sensitise the community to its own nutritional challenges.
  • To achieve this, health and nutrition data of women, children, and adolescents were collected through height and weight measurements and consolidated with secondary data sources.
  • The results were presented to the community, allowing them to visualize the extent of malnutrition among their own people.
  • This method was crucial because rather than being told they were undernourished; the villagers saw the evidence firsthand.
• Selection of Community Representatives for Training
  • Once the community acknowledged the issue, villagers selected representatives, both men and women, from different villages and caste groups to undergo residential training programs.
  • This ensured inclusivity and representation of diverse social groups.
  • The participants were chosen based on their willingness to learn and share knowledge, as they would later become ‘community champions’ responsible for spreading awareness and implementing solutions at the village level.
• Mobilising Collective Action
  • While social structures in rural communities are often hierarchical, the residential training created a neutral space where villagers from different backgrounds could engage in open discussions.
  • This bridged social divides and fostered collective action.
  • Participants collaborated to introduce more nutritious crops, share farming techniques, and advocate for government entitlements.
  • They realised that rather than making individual efforts, collective bargaining at the panchayat (local governance) level could lead to greater access to resources and schemes.
  • To spread awareness beyond the training group, participants created songs and messages on topics like balanced diets, hygiene, and sanitation.
  • These songs were then performed in villages, markets, and festivals, helping embed key nutritional messages into everyday life.

Some Other Steps Taken by the Local Community in Koraput to Take the Ownership of their Nutritional Security

• Tangible Changes in Nutrition and Agriculture
  • The impact of these efforts was visible in the community’s dietary habits and farming practices.
  • Home gardens, which initially contained only four types of crops, grew to include nine varieties.
  • Similarly, crop diversity in larger farms expanded from two or three varieties to as many as five.
  • Households began consuming a wider range of nutrient-rich foods, including pulses, leafy vegetables, tubers, fruits, poultry, and fish.
  • Some even adopted bio composting techniques to enhance soil fertility.
  • The program also empowered women, who played a crucial role in improving family nutrition.
  • Many worked closely with health workers such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Anganwadi workers to spread awareness about dietary needs.
  • For example, one woman, Sanya from Maligad village, ensured her anaemic daughter received a balanced diet of leafy vegetables, ripe fruits, pulses, and eggs.
• Strengthening Community Institutions
  • Beyond individual households, the program led to the strengthening of community structures that support nutrition security.
  • Villagers took an active role in monitoring direct feeding programs under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
  • In one instance, when the village of Lecha lacked an Anganwadi centre, women champions organised meetings to demand one.
  • The village collectively passed a resolution, and their male counterparts followed up with local authorities until the request was granted.
  • They even supervised the construction of the centre and ensured its proper inauguration.
  • Additionally, the community revived traditional institutions such as grain banks and engaged in village council meetings (Gram Sabhas) to discuss long-term strategies for achieving hunger-free villages.
  • These collective efforts have laid the foundation for sustained improvements in nutrition and food security in Koraput.

Conclusion

• The transformation witnessed in Koraput highlights the power of community-driven initiatives in addressing undernutrition.
• By combining nutrition literacy with sustainable agricultural practices, the MSSRF program enabled villagers to take control of their own food security.
• The success of this approach underscores the importance of integrating local knowledge with scientific principles while fostering collective action.
• As the community continues its journey toward better nutrition and food security, its experiences serve as an inspiring model for other regions facing similar challenges.