Our Reach
Malnutrition rates have been declining in India, but the absolute numbers of stunted (short for age) (46.6 million), wasted (low weight for height) (25.5 million), and anaemic children (73 million under-3 children) are still a concern. With a prodigious challenge of triple burden of malnutrition — under-nutrition, over-nutrition and micro-nutrient malnutrition — facing India and due to the cultural and geographical variance across states, combating malnutrition requires a granular approach
Malnutrition is multi-factorial, caused by the lack of wholesome and nutritious food, poor hygiene and sanitation, frequent illness, poor care practices, and lack of access to services.
Most of these are preventable or treatable through effective health and nutrition interventions. Maternal literacy, status of women in society, economic and social factors including poverty and income distribution are strong determinants of child health and influence care practices at home. Hence, we find higher levels of malnutrition in rural areas, especially among rural and tribal families.
Multiple initiatives have been taken up by GoI to address malnutrition, including Welfare Schemes like:
Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)
Poshan Abhiyaan
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
Anaemia-mukt Bharat
Multiple initiatives have been taken up by GoI to address malnutrition, including Health Schemes like:
Mission Indradhanush
Intensified Home-based Newborn Care
Livelihood promotion through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
Sanitation and hygiene initiatives through Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, among others.
According to the National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4), the statistics concerning maternal and child health indicators reveal that only 21% of pregnant women underwent full Antenatal Care (ANC) check-ups, 41.6% of infants were breastfed within one hour of birth, 54.9% were exclusively breastfed for six months, 42.7% received timely complementary food, and approximately 9.6% of children under the age of two received an adequate diet.
Utilizing effective communication channels to engage mothers in their local languages is imperative for addressing prevalent issues. Initiatives such as Mission Indradhanush, Intensified Home-based Newborn Care, livelihood promotion through MGNREGS, and sanitation and hygiene campaigns like Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan play crucial roles in improving nutritional status. Central to achieving positive outcomes is the modification of caregiving behaviors among mothers.
Engaging mothers through behavior change communication is pivotal for enhancing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to essential maternal and child health services. This includes promoting Antenatal Care (ANC), institutional delivery, early and exclusive breastfeeding, timely introduction of complementary feeding, dietary diversity, immunization, and other vital services to mitigate malnutrition.
The active participation of community women in groups such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs) has demonstrated significant and measurable impacts on various health indicators, including maternal and neonatal mortality rates. This collective engagement fosters psychosocial well-being, self-efficacy, and confidence among group members. Additionally, by challenging restrictive gender norms, these groups effectively address demand-side issues within programming frameworks.
Our Impact in MAP
Established in 2010, the Britannia Nutrition Foundation (BNF) endeavors to alleviate the burden of malnutrition across India. Presently, BNF operates in nine locations situated near Britannia Industries Factory locales.
Our operational footprint spans Assam, Uttarakannada, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Rudrapur, Jhagadia, Madurai, Hajipur, and Ranjangaon. Through targeted interventions, we empower children, mothers, caregivers, and their families to access services provided by the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) department. Our initiatives encompass school, community, and Anganwadi settings, fostering a comprehensive environment conducive to the well-being of pregnant and lactating women, as well as children afflicted by moderate and severe malnutrition (SAM/ MAM).
Collaborating with community helpers, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), Suposhan Sakhis, and Nutrition Champions, we cultivate a nurturing environment aimed at promoting nutrition awareness and sensitivity among beneficiaries. Through our efforts, we strive to establish inclusive systems that cater to the nutritional needs of our beneficiaries.
Programm Out Reach 2023
Locations
(State)
Beneficiary Reached
Villages & Slumps
Anganwadis Provided
Schools
Madhya Pradesh
(Gwalior)
26,300+
104
128
150
Bihar
(Hajipur)
21,000+
72
98
62
Gujarat
(Jhagadia)
21,000+
100
145
75
Odisha
(Khordha)
3,500+
25
0
28
Tamil Nadu
(Madurai)
15,200+
60
116
56
Tamil Nadu
(Perundurai)
3,800+
09
09
25
Maharashtra
(Ranjangaon)
32,700+
47
192
84
Uttarakhand
(Rudrapur)
22,500+
40
93
37
Madhya Pradesh
(Shivpuri)
45,000+
65
126
80
Karnataka
(Uttar Kannada)
7,000+
38
0
50
Karnataka
(Uttar Kannada*)
*Fortification Initiative
19,000+
0
326
0
IN Total
2,17,000+
Beneficiary Reached
560
Village & Slums
1,233
Anganwadi
647
Schools