Introduction

Koraput, a district in Odisha, is a picturesque landscape rich in biodiversity and home to a predominantly tribal population. However, it faces a paradox—widespread poverty and malnutrition. Despite the presence of various government programs, such as direct feeding initiatives and livelihood schemes, malnutrition levels remain high.

According to National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21),

• 43% of children under five years suffer from stunting (low height-for-age).
• 33% of children are underweight.
• Only 17% receive an adequate diet.
• More than 50% of women suffer from anemia.

The question is: How can people take charge of their own nutrition and ensure access to a healthier diet and a better environment?

A Step Towards Nutrition Security

Between 2013 and 2022, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) implemented a community-based nutrition literacy model to empower tribal communities. The goal was to diversify their household food basket with nutritious foods. This initiative aimed to create a transformational shift towards nutrition security by:
✅ Encouraging agricultural diversification
✅ Promoting sustainable farming practices
✅ Enhancing sanitation and hygiene
✅ Educating communities on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices

As transformation starts at the individual level, a residential training program was designed to build the capacity of a select group of men and women who would later act as nutrition champions in their communities.

Community Awareness & Training

The first step in this initiative was to create awareness about nutrition literacy among the community members. This involved:

1️⃣ Assessing the nutritional status of women, adolescents, and children through height and weight measurements.
2️⃣ Engaging elderly community members to understand traditional food practices that could improve dietary diversity.
3️⃣ Conducting group discussions and interactive sessions to sensitize people on the importance of balanced nutrition.

Women actively participated in these discussions and explored the gender dimensions of nutrition security within households.

📌 One participant remarked:
"We never thought about including lentils and vegetables in our daily diet. As long as there was rice, we were satisfied."

After the training, women realized they were the custodians of traditional food varieties and had the power to introduce diverse, nutritious foods into their families' diets.

The Power of Collective Action

In tribal societies, decision-making is often hierarchical. However, the residential training program created an opportunity for people to engage with other communities and share knowledge.

✅ Participants learned about multi-cropping techniques and how to cultivate different types of nutritious crops in home gardens.
✅ They recognized the benefits of collective decision-making over individual actions, which led to better access to government nutrition schemes.

💡 Message and song-based awareness campaigns were created on themes like:
✔️ Balanced diet
✔️ Dietary diversity
✔️ Hygiene and sanitation
✔️ Support for women in agriculture

This helped amplify the impact beyond their own villages, reaching the panchayat level.

Diversification in Food Production

One of the biggest changes was the increased diversity in agricultural production, leading to better food security and improved nutrition.

🌾 Key transformations included:

🔹 Revival of kitchen gardens – Women reclaimed unused land for growing vegetables and pulses.
🔹 Leasing additional land for farming – Some farmers took land on lease to expand food production.
🔹 Increased focus on sustainable farming – Farmers avoided chemical fertilizers and prioritized traditional organic farming methods.

💡 Impact of food diversification:

• Households that previously grew only 2-3 crops started cultivating 7-8 varieties of crops.
• More than 60% of the crops produced were consumed locally, improving household nutrition levels.
• More than 70% of households began practicing organic farming and stopped using harmful chemicals.

Women’s Role & Community Leadership

More than 200 men and women from over 70 villages were trained through the residential training program. They later became "Community Champions", driving change in their respective villages.

📌 Women played a crucial role in this transformation:
✔️ They worked closely with ASHA and Anganwadi workers to spread awareness about better nutrition.
✔️ A mother from a tribal village shared:
"I finally understand the importance of leafy vegetables in my child’s diet. When my daughter was discharged from the hospital, doctors advised us to provide more green vegetables."

These women leaders not only improved their families’ nutrition but also became decision-makers in agricultural planning.

Scaling Up the Impact

Rather than relying solely on government feeding programs, communities started adopting integrated approaches to food production and nutrition security.

✅ More than 1,000 families participated in this project, leading to a significant improvement in dietary diversity, agricultural productivity, and food security.

🔹 Key success stories include:

1️⃣ Increased food diversity
✔️ Families transitioned from growing only 2-3 crops to 7-8 different crops.
✔️ Introduction of green leafy vegetables, pulses, fruits, and tubers.

2️⃣ Improved health outcomes
✔️ Reduction in anemia among children and women.
✔️ Better maternal nutrition for pregnant women.

3️⃣ Strengthening the local economy
✔️ Women started selling surplus produce in local markets, generating additional income.
✔️ Adoption of sustainable agricultural techniques boosted crop yields and food security.

Conclusion

The transformation in Koraput’s villages serves as an inspiring case study of how community-led initiatives can tackle malnutrition and food insecurity.

🔹 Key Takeaways:

• Nutrition security is achievable through sustainable agricultural practices and community-driven initiatives.
• Empowering women in food production and decision-making leads to better dietary diversity and health outcomes.
• Collective action at the grassroots level can drive long-term social and economic transformation.

This initiative demonstrates that with the right training, awareness, and leadership, tribal communities can take charge of their own food security and nutrition.

🔹 Instead of relying solely on government schemes, Koraput's communities have embraced self-sufficiency and sustainable farming for a healthier future.

By Team Atharva Examwise
🌍 Visit: www.atharvaexamwise.com for more insightful case studies and educational resources! 🚀