Education India Project #31546

Fighting Malnutrition Through Child Care in India

by Seva Mandir

Project Report | Jan 3, 2023
Let the New Year Bring Happiness to Everyone

By Atul Lekhra | Programme Incharge

Happy New Year

Dear Friend,

From all of us here in Seva Mandir we wish you and your family Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the New Year bring to you lots of love, laughter, and joy.

Your generosity is bringing cheer and hope to so many children. Thank you from Seva Mandir on behalf of 500,000 villagers we work with in Southern Rajasthan.

Six year old Ghanashyam attends a Balwadi (Seva Mandir’s day care cum pre-school center) located in Kotra block of Udaipur, one of the poorest areas of India. His mother was leaving him home unattended while she worked in the fields. He was malnourished when enrolled at the Balwadi centre.

Initially, her mother Bhuri was not ready to enroll her to the Balwadi and felt that home is the safe place for her child. She was not aware that her child is suffering from malnutrition. This is the case with most of the mothers in our working area. However, with much persuasion of the caretaker Rama who is also from the same village, Ghanashyam was enrolled at our Balwadi centre. Rama like other Balwadi care takers is trained for running Balwadi and on child health and nutrition. He gave Ghanashyam nutritious meals with extra fat content as per his needs. Ghanashyam was also given de-worming, vitamin and iron supplements as the part of the project.

When Ghanashyam enrolled in the Balwadi, he weighed 6.5 kg. After two months of regular care and nourishment, he weighed 7.5 kg. He is now in the ‘well-nourished’ category and his mother Bhuri is grateful that she decided to send her son to the Balwadi centre regularly for her child’s healthy growth.

Balwadis not only provide safe environment and nutrition to the tribal children, but also create much needed awareness on childcare to prevent further malnutrition in the generations to come.

Many children like Ghanashyam need support at the moment. Support a child like Ghanashyam. It only takes $10 to ensure nutritious meal to a child in tribal areas of Aravalli (mountain range) for three months. A small gesture from you can be life changing experience for many kids out there.

There is no joy better than the joy of giving and we do hope that you also feel the same pride by being part of our journey. We hope you continue to be part of our journey.

Please do consider visiting us when you travel to this part of the world. Children will be very happy to meet there secret Santa.

Best Wishes,

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir Team

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Nov 28, 2022
Nobel Laureate & J-Pal Group visited Seva Mandir

By Atul Lekhra | Programme Incharge

Dear Friend,

Recently, Seva Mandir was elated to welcome 2019 Nobel Laureate Prof. Abhijeet Banerjee, Economist, Director J-Pal (The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab) and Mohammad Abdul Latif Jameel, Chairman and CEO, Abdul Latif Jameel Group and J-Pal team. This visit was a special visit for both parties due to the exciting exchange of thoughts and ideas shared on the mutual interest in the development of rural communities in Rajasthan.

Prof. Banerjee and Seva Mandir have had a longstanding and strong relationship since 1996. The Nobel laureate has worked extensively on studying various development problems and has helped in contributing to their solutions.

The few days of their Udaipur visit were jam-packed with visits and productive discussions. The J-PAL team, along with Seva Mandir’s team, traveled to remote villages Jalpaka and Jhabla; where they were formally introduced to Seva Mandir’s initiatives including natural resources, early childcare and nutrition, women empowerment and education.

A notable highlight of the visit was Prof. Banerjee’s enthusiastic discussion at a women’s Self Help Group (SHG) regarding the growing challenges of poverty and need for climate action in vulnerable regions and communities such as theirs.

During the community discussion, Prof. Banerjee vocalized, “Climate change and water scarcity are global challenges,and it will worsen in future. In India, the rural community has vast knowledge of water related challenges and its solutions. I look forward to understanding community perspectives and suggestions on tackling the future challenges and its solutions. This democratic approach will enable us to find collaborative solutions to the future challenges.”

Thank you so much for all your faith and continuous support to our programme.

Best Wishes,

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir team

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Nov 11, 2022
Yamuna: From Malnourished Child to a Healthy Child

By Atul Lekhra | Programme Incharge

In a remote hamlet of Dhar village, in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan, India, lives, Yamuna. Ever since the four year old was born, she was physically weak due to a lack of proper nutrition and care. As both her parents were farmers, income would often be unreliable. Without access to proper help, her smile started inverting slowly along with her health condition.

During a routine visit to the village, Seema, a caretaker at Seva Mandir’s Balwadi (daycare centre), saw Yamuna. Immediately after seeing her poor and malnourished condition, Seema approached Yamuna’s parents, Panki and Panna, to enroll their daughter at the Balwadi centre. When they agreed and sent her everyday, she was very quiet and indifferent to any learning activities. Seema monitored Yamuna’s diet both at the centre and at home, to ensure she got the required intake of food and leafy green vegetables with extra oil. She further counseled her parents on hygiene and the importance of providing children with a proper nutritious diet.

In the next 6-7 months, Yamuna’s health started improving and she moved safely into the healthy category.

Now, she is an active child who enjoys learning and playing with her friends. At present, her smile shines brighter than before. Through her involvement in Seva Mandir’s initiative, her health evidently transformed her ability to enjoy the joys of life.

In Seva Mandir’s regional working areas, young children of 0-5 age are often left neglected at home either without any supervision or with elder siblings while their parents work. More than 60% of the children in the tribal areas of Udaipur are malnourished. Balwadis provide a safe and healthy environment for these children by ensuring the required nutrition and health care. The work of our Balwadis enable children an opportunity for a healthier and brighter future.

Every donation helps these children see their dreams of a better life. With as little as $10 you can help one child, like Yamuna, receive nutritional meals in Balwadi for 3 months. To support this cause, please follow the link: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/childcare/. Given your faithful support, please consider becoming a monthly donor to resolve this shared cause.

All thanks goes to our faithful well-wishers and supporters like you by whom we are able to keep this program running successfully. We hope that you will continue to help the many children in need.

Best wishes,

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir Team

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