This document discusses malnutrition in India and proposes solutions. It finds that India ranks poorly on hunger indexes and millions of children die from malnutrition-linked diseases. It measures malnutrition through height, weight, and age assessments. The key causes of malnutrition are identified as lack of hygiene, management issues, food scarcity, poverty, and population growth. Solutions proposed include cultivating high-pH foods, using single-cell proteins like spirulina, increasing hygiene awareness, and implementing bio-sand filters. An implementation plan and estimated costs are provided to produce and distribute spirulina to vulnerable groups. Potential impacts and risks of the solutions are also discussed.

1. Nourish To
Flourish
Team RAKSHAK
Madhulika Singh
Debanjan Patra
V. Shweta Reddy
Ankita Jena
Habeeb Rahman

2. “Malnourished: national shame”, Nutrition core pillar of human development
Malnutrition: State of nutrition where there is imbalance of energy, protein & other nutrients
causes measurable adverse effects on tissue/body form(body shape, size & composition)
Malnutrition
Under nourished : PEM , Avitaminosis , Mineral deficiency
Over nourished : Obesity , Vitamin poisoning , Mineral overload
India where it stands: SNAPSHOT
The 2011 Global Hunger Index(GHI) Report ranked India 15th, amongst leading
countries with hunger situation.
It also places India amongst the three countries where the GHI between 1996 and
2011 went up from 22.9 to 23.7.
According to United Nations 2.1 million Indian children below 5 years dies due to
diseases which are linked with malnutrition. This created a decline in children
population as compared to the total population in the last decade.

3. Measuring Malnutrition among children…
Height-for-Age - inadequate height-for-age indicate stunting
Weight-for-Height - inadequate weight-for-height indicate wasting
Weight-for-Age - inadequate weight-for-age indicate underweight
EDUCATED & HEALTHY MOTHERS
HEALTHY CHILDREN & WEALTHY NATION
EDUCATION & AWARENESS
IRRADICATION OF MALNOURISHED

4. HYGIENE
Lack of proper sanitation
facilities
Lack of knowledge and
awareness
MANAGEMENT
Difference in political
ideologies
Lack of leadership and follow-
ups
FOOD SCARCITY
Rapid urbanization affecting
GDP
Corruption and lack of
management
POVERTY
Unemployment due to
economic crisis
High population rate
Causes for Malnutrition

5. Curbing Malnutrition by Rakshak ways
 Solution: Cultivation of high pH fruits and vegetables like papaya, carrot, spinach etc in
the affected areas ( at all houses in the form of kitchen gardening ). Body pH plays an
important role in balancing the human metabolic system. These are very rich in micro
nutrients also.
 Merits: Easily available, Low dependency on government, Cost effective, Self sufficient
etc.
Solution: Introduction of single cell proteins (SCP’s). Single cell proteins are highly
nutritious substances obtained from micro-organisms and plants. They are very rich in
proteins and micro-nutrients. e.g.: Spirullina (it is an algae).
 Merits: Cheap in production, Small amount is needed, High efficiency to replace many
food which are nutritious.
 Solution: Awareness to hygiene in a high level will make the people to understand about
the good hygiene practices and also it will make them healthy. Application of awareness
will reduce the rate of chance of diseases like diarrhea, typhoid etc. Establishment of bio
sand filters and if an awareness is given about the importance, then people will tend to
buy that in order to reduce disease probability. Also the introduction of soaps in a
subsidized rate through ration centers will make the people to buy and make proper use
of it.
 Merits: Bio sand filters are quite very cheap ( mostly free ) and is highly efficient at a
certain limit. So we can wipe out diseases related to water to a certain extent.
Also if we are able to give soaps for a cheap price and the proper awareness of usage of
soap is given, then people will tend to buy that in order to protect themselves from
diseases.

6. The Path we lay for Implementation
The solutions which are suggested should target the most vulnerable group’s, in this case children,
pregnant women and lactating mother. So in accordance implementations are suggested below.
CHILDREN PREGNANT WOMEN
1. Require 1 gram per day (Spirullina). 1. Require 2.5 grams per day (Spirullina).
2. Rs. 2.5 per gram made in the form of
Spirullina bars (chikkis).
2. Rs. 5 per gram served in the form of
Spirullina tablets.
3. Distributed at the time of mid day meals
at schools and anganwadis.
3. Distributed in the primary health centers
at every trimester visit.
Spirullina
production
at
convenient
area
Chikki
production by
self help
groups
Tablets
production
Distributed in
schools and
anganwadis
Distributed in
primary health
centers
Children
Pregnant
women

7. Investment Money (in Rs)
30 Tanks 300,000
Land and building 600,000
Tools, packaging
machine,
working capital
300,000
Total investment 1,200,000
Production per yr Money (in Rs)
Average of 130,000
kilograms
during 10 month
200,000
Salaries (Rs 1540/
Month/women)
78,000
Nutrient(65 Rs/kg)
Administration
24,000
Amortization and
interest (15%)
1,88,000
Total cost/Yr 4,91,000
Total cost/Kg 380
The total investment and production cost (per year) is estimated to be around 17
lakh’s, which is to be funded by Government or private bodies. The estimated
finance is given below.
Investment Production cost
Finance

8. Chief
Controller
Plant manager Labors
First outreach
team
Manager &
Labors (chikki
plant)
Pharmaceuticals
Second outreach
team
Second outreach
team
School Health center
Human Resource

9. Implementation of Bio sand filters:
District
level
officer/
head
Team of
experts
NGO
Self help
groups
Student
volunteers
Rural areas
Implementation of cultivation of high pH fruits and vegetables
Central
seed
depot
School and
anganvadis
State
depot
District
depot
Taluk
depot
Primary
health
center
Seeds at primary health center
targets the pregnant and
lactating women while in
schools it is students, to
promote kitchen garden.
NB:

10. Impact of Spirullina product :
1) Improved health of almost all moderately and mild malnourished in a faster rate.
But in severe or acute malnourished people, for a good result it will take
comparatively a longer time.
2) Investment and burden of government is less.
3) Employment opportunities for women in a good extent (avg. 90 women/affected
area)
4) Skill in manufacturing practices are learned.
Impact of Bio sand filter:
1) Solving the problem of water sanitation
2) Reduction of water prone diseases and there by decline in
malnutrition rate.
Impact of high pH vegetables and fruits
1) Increase in micro-nutrient level
2) Women empowerment if production is more

11. Concepts Risks
 A product made out of Spirullina is
completely unknown from an unknown
source for a layman which may not be
easily acceptable.
 Since the Bio sand filters are not made by
expertise hands but by local people, there
might be chances for getting a defective
product.
 As the spirullina product doesn’t have a
good back bone in India, there may be
problem in raising funds.
Implementation Risks
Climatic variations may lead to huge
decline in production of Spirullina
(rainy season is not favorable).
 In some people there may be a
probable chance for allergic reactions
after having Spirullina product.
 As papaya and carrot are seasonal
products, so they won’t be available all
the time.
 Bio Sand filters are not that efficient
in trapping microbial toxins even
though they trap microbes.
Mitigation factors
 Good level quality advertising should be done for a better promotion. (eg: Appointing
notable persons of the society as the ambassadors of the programme).
Pinpoint information and knowledge should be delivered in order to make the bio
sand filter less defective.
Extensive research should be done to find out and to eradicate the allergic reactions
of Spirullina product in some people.

12. Thank You