An Uttar Pradesh model to tackle malnutrition

Last Updated07/02/2024

Uttar Pradesh is a remarkable example of the impact of women’s empowerment on addressing malnutrition through community-based micro enterprises led by self-help groups.
These enterprises produce fortified foods for pregnant/breastfeeding mothers and children under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme.

In 2020, the Department of Women and Child Development and Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission collaborated to establish decentralized production units for take home rations by women’s enterprises.
This involved a 20-member women's group utilising automated equipment with a capacity of five metric tonnes per day.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) piloted the model in Unnao and Fatehpur in 2021, leading to its expansion to 202 units across 43 districts within two years.

The initiative has provided livelihood opportunities for 4,080 women, benefiting 12 million ICDS beneficiaries across the state.
Engaging local women in running the production units has economically empowered over 4,000 women organised into 204 self-help group micro enterprises.
They receive machinery and raw materials at subsidised rates to produce and distribute take home rations, contributing to the local economy.
Once the rations are delivered to Anganwadi centres by the women’s groups, the women are reimbursed according to ICDS cost norms.

Previously, Uttar Pradesh followed a centralized model for producing and distributing rations.
The shift to a decentralized model empowers women to prepare specific caloric value rations.
- The aim is to generate an additional income of ₹8,000 a month for each woman.
The Department of Women and Child Development reformulated take home rations to include high-quality ingredients like milk powder, oil, vitamins, and minerals.
Different formulations cater to different groups, addressing monotony and ensuring nutritional diversity.

Collaboration with WFP focused on enhancing nutritional value and utilization of ICDS-supplied rations.
Research, including production trials and acceptability studies, led to diverse products with informative packaging to promote consumption.
An app-based solution and pilot projects are being developed to train women in producing nutritious products for local markets and track ration delivery using QR codes, enhancing the viability and sustainability of the initiative.

The success of micro-enterprises led by women underscores the importance of women’s empowerment in combating malnutrition.
It highlights the effectiveness of a multi-stakeholder approach in implementing scalable solutions for long-term community nutrition improvement.