Malnutrition is a persistent problem in India, with nearly 30% of the population below the poverty line. 44% of children under 5 are underweight, and over 70% of infants and 50% of women are anemic. Malnutrition during pregnancy increases risk of diseases and cognitive impairment in children, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. The team proposes tackling this problem through the "Aahar" solution - identifying malnourished pregnant women and children under 2, providing medical support and nutritional supplements to cure acute malnutrition, and promoting breastfeeding for immunity and development. Regular monitoring would measure the impact of this decentralized, supply chain-based intervention. Challenges include identifying at-risk groups and ensuring an un

1. TEAM MEMBERS
KRITIKA SOBTI
NIKITA RAWAT
PRIYANKA SACHDEVA
SHUBHANGI SHEKHER
SRIKANTH.R

2. Scope of problem: Malnutrition is a
persistent problem in India with 29.8% of the 1.2 billion
population falling below poverty line.
* 44% of children of age under 5 in India are
underweight. 72% of the infants and 52% of married
women are anemic. This forms a grave problem as
anemic mothers are not able to feed their new-born
well – which forms the basis of malnourishment.
* Research has conclusively shown that Research has
conclusively shown that malnutrition during pregnancy
causes the child to have increased risk of future
diseases, physical retardation, and reduced cognitive
abilities. This in-turn leads to impaired productivity at
work and hence low income which again results in
poverty and undernourishment.

3. CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM
•Social inequality of women in terms of their respect and treatment including poor quality and
quantity of food and nourishment
•Lack of proper knowledge for the pregnant women about baby feeding and nutritional
requirements
•Lack of proper implementation and operation of the mid-day meal scheme and its nutritional
content
•Wastage of food by the people during the parties and other functions
REASONS FOR SELECTING SPECIFIC CAUSE
• Proper channelization and direction of mid-day meal will yield better results and reduce
under-nourishment of children who are future generation.
•Imparting knowledge & importance about the nutritional values to pregnant women would
considerably reduce the under-nourishment of babies and make them robust and develop
immunity against diseases.
•Wastage of food grains in godowns and foods at parties are a serious concern as that quantity
can be effectively utilized for the feeding the under-privileged.

4. Problem statement – Wastage of Food
• Food wastage-we struggle to feed our people and still it is reported that India has food wastage of about
58,000 crore.
• 20 crore people in india sleep empty stomach – 2013
• About 7 million children died of hunger – 2012 - reduction in food wastage can save 42% of food subsidy bill
• 40% of fruits and vegetables produced are wasted – due to lack of infrastructure, harsh weather conditions
and omnipresent corruption
Methods to be adopted –
• Food subsidy budget – 75,366 crore – 50% of food produced donot reach children due to wastage – focus
budget allotment on building infrastructure for proper storage.
• Awareness campaign - though such campaigns are still going on but people are not much aware. Aware them
enough so that they can help contribute by saving the wastage of cooked food.
• Concept of cook and reuse must be emphasised upon.

5. * A survey should be conducted and database should be prepared – area-wise which should contain the
details of number of malnourished and under-nourished children. If possible the area should be divided
on priority basis – cooked food when collected from parties or get-togethers can be distributed to these
areas without delay
* It is important to have prior knowledge about such areas because shelf –life of cooked food is not more
than 3-4 hours. It will help save time and cover area , a little far away – which otherwise could not have
been covered because of paucity of time.
* There is already an awareness campaign with Aamir Khan promoting the campaign – similar campaign
must be launched to create awareness about wastage of food and harm it cause – urging people to save
food.
* Form connect with voluntary organization who are working against food wastage – help them organise
and manage helplines to collect food and take them to the target group of people.
* Create awareness about such facilities being there as a lot of people either donot know about them or
donot care to help – but with association of socially aware personalities people tend to take these
efforts seriously

6. SAMADHAN – 360 degree Model
It is an organised form of grievance redressal system formulated specially for primary and district level schools urban and rural
areas where mid-day meal scheme is running.
Objectives
•Maintaining Hygiene
•Timely fulfilment of daily needs
•Addressing complaints time bound via
automated telephonic service
•Quality assurance
•Efficient and prompt response- To
engage each party in regular feedback
and mutual benefits.
Structure
•“Samadhan Sanchaar”- a team
handling the telephonic operations and
collecting database of complaints
•“Samadhan Mitra”-Team addressing the
needs and complaints lodged with
“Sanchaar” within 24 hours and solving
the issue within 72 hours
•“Samadhan Disha”-Both of these teams
will be monitored and guided by a
senior inspection and guidance team
comprising of the given constitution
Implementation
•Selecting sample area first for
experimentation.
•Planning of compensation and
responsibilities of members involved.
•Selection of ‘Samadhan Disha’ members
and giving them autonomy,
accountibility
•Selecting efficient and educated youth
for ‘Samachar Sanchar’ and ‘Samachar
Mitra’ .
•Incentives and recognition of team
members will be dependent upon 70% of
the school principal’s feedback whom
they are serving.
•Rotation of members within a specified
time in ‘Samadhan Disha’ to avoid
nepotism and favoritism in structure.
District
School
Principals
(2)
Incumbent
IAS officers
(2)
Social
Workers
(2)
Senior
Doctors/
Health
Specialist
(2)
Below is an outline of
‘Samadhan Disha’

7. SAMADHAN – Inspection and Monitoring Authority
MERITS
Minimizing supply bottlenecks
Ensuring consistency and
quality of the meal served
Better resource utilization
Greater efficiency
Employment opportunities
Impact
Scalability
Decentralised
autonomous model,
alterations in
structure and
implementation as
per the regional
needs.
Sustainability
It is a 360 degree
model with the
benefit of each party
being dependent on
the other.
Leveraging existing
govt. resources
Govt. schools and
principals , existing
distribution
/communication
networks, existing mid
day meal plans and
policies
Financial and HR
Requirements
Operating Costs,
recruitment process
,compensation cost
Stakeholders
Government,
Children(6-14
yrs),govt. schools,
personnel employed
Measuring Criteria
Quarterly census of
targeted areas in the
experimentation
phase, Publishing
quarterly reports on
social and print
media.

8. Proposed Solution
1. Aahar : Feed ing the pregnant mothers and new born children
 Identification of pregnant women in rural areas and providing immediate medical
assistance to women classified as under-nourished, anemic etc.
 Diagnosis of mal-nutrition: Distribution of balanced nutritional food supplements like
Plumpy’net amongst the targeted group through Anganwadi supply chain.
 Increase awareness about the importance of Colostrum and breastfeeding to decrease
the infant mortality rate by improving the immunity. This also reduces probability of the
child being undernourished in future.
Implementation of Solution
 Decentralized Medic Team at Village/Tehsil level: To provide for identification of
nutritional level in pregnant women, and later provide consultation for Colostrum, other
medical issues.
 Maintaining regular supply of Plumpy’Nut and efficient distribution amongst identified
group for at-least 2 sachets per day for 6-10 weeks(depending upon the severity) to cure
acute mal-nutrition.

9.  Following up: to measure the mal-nutrition level of the woman/new born after the treatment has been
given (i.e after 6-10 weeks)
Impact of Solution
 Increases health and vitality of the mother which benefits the family adding value to the
household.
 Increased breastfeeding: which will inturn reduce the mal-nutrition level of child and make
him more immune.
Challenges and Mitigation Factors
 Identification of pregnant women: since rural people are hesitant in disclose of inside
information and rural women have reduced visibility outside their houses.
 Supply bottleneck of Plumpy’Nut: Monopoly of supplier (Nutriset,France) can limit the supply
of the product owing to the large demand.
 Setting up a leakage free supply : Owing to various supply glitches in Anganwadi channel, it
will be a challenge to ensure a leakage free distribution amongst the affected party.

10. *
1. http://www.ninindia.org/DietaryGuidelinesforNINwebsite.pdf
2. http://mdm.nic.in/Files/School%20Health%20Programme/Nutrition_Support/Nutrition_support_Introd
uction.pdf
3. http://www.ilikemyblog.com/how-to-overcome-child-malnutrition/
4. http://www.hungamaforchange.org/FlierA4copy.pdf
5. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/05/13/helping-india-combat-persistently-high-rates-
of-malnutrition