What does it take to break the cycle of malnutrition in India’s underserved regions?

Despite progress, the reality remains stark: according to the NFHS-5 (2021–22) data, 67.9% of children aged 6–59 months, and 57.1% of women aged 15-49 years, in Bihar are anaemic. East Champaran, one of Bihar’s most vulnerable districts, reflects this national concern.

While infrastructure and policy continue to evolve, localized interventions such as nutrition workshops have emerged as powerful tools to educate, mobilize, and empower communities. This blog explores the impact of a recent workshop conducted in East Champaran under the Krishi Jyoti Project, highlighting how grassroots engagement can lead to tangible health improvements.

What was the Malnutrition Challenge in Bihar?

What happens when a child’s first meal is inadequate—and the second, third, and fourth follow the same pattern?

For far too many children and women in Bihar, particularly in districts like East Champaran, this is an everyday reality. Despite efforts at improving healthcare and food security, the state remains one of India’s most nutritionally vulnerable regions. Malnutrition is not just a health issue here—it is an intergenerational crisis impacting growth, development, and productivity.

1. Widespread Stunting and Wasting Among Children

According to the NFHS-5 (2019–21), 42.9% of children under five in Bihar are stunted, meaning their height is significantly low for their age due to chronic undernutrition. Additionally, 22.9% of children suffer from wasting, which indicates acute weight loss from recent illness or inadequate food intake.

In East Champaran, where families often face poverty, poor sanitation, and limited access to quality healthcare, these numbers are not mere statistics—they reflect the lived experiences of children struggling with poor growth, weak immunity, and delayed development.

2. Alarming Rates of Anaemia Among Children and Adolescents

Anaemia remains a serious concern, especially among children and adolescent girls. As per NFHS-5, 69.4% of children aged 6–59 months in Bihar are anaemic, while 63.5% of adolescent girls (15–19 years) show signs of iron deficiency anaemia.

The consequences are dire: poor concentration in school, low physical stamina, delayed puberty, and for girls—higher risks in future pregnancies. In districts such as East Champaran, where diets lack iron-rich foods and healthcare access is limited, anaemia silently hinders a generation’s potential.

3. Undernutrition Among Women During Pregnancy and Lactation

Women’s nutrition plays a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of malnutrition—but here too, Bihar faces serious challenges. More than 58% of women in Bihar aged 15–49 are anaemic, many of them pregnant or lactating.

Inadequate maternal nutrition leads to low birth weight, preterm deliveries, and undernourished infants. In East Champaran, deeply rooted patriarchal norms, coupled with poor health services and limited awareness, make it difficult for expectant mothers to access essential nutrients, antenatal care, and rest—putting both the mother and newborn at risk.

The Krishi Jyoti Nutrition Workshop: A Targeted Intervention

To counter these systemic issues, a nutrition workshop was organised on March 4, 2025, in East Champaran district. Supported by Mosaic India Private Limited and executed under the Krishi Jyoti Project, the workshop aimed to build capacity among frontline workers who are often the first point of contact in rural healthcare.

Participants included:

Key officials from the Health and ICDS departments also took part, including the medical officer in-charge (MOIC) and block medical coordinator.

Workshop Highlights: What Was Covered?

The curriculum focused on improving the understanding of essential nutritional practices and service delivery:

Interactive methods such as group activities, introductory games, and icebreakers ensured that the training was not just informative, but also engaging and memorable.

Real-time Assessment and Feedback

To ensure the training’s effectiveness, pre- and post-assessments were conducted to gauge changes in participants’ knowledge levels. Feedback forms also captured valuable suggestions for improving future sessions.

A block coordinator from the ICDS department noted:

“The workshop deserves all the praise it can get. Great management and a valuable learning platform for health care workers.”

Empowering the Frontline: Why It Matters

Frontline health workers are critical to rural nutrition delivery. However, gaps in training often hinder their effectiveness. A study published by NITI Aayog (2023) highlights that continuous training of ASHAs and AWWs has a direct impact on early identification and treatment of malnutrition in children.

Through workshops like this, the following benefits were observed:

How to Strengthen the Public Health through Convergence

One of the workshop’s key successes was in enabling institutional convergence between the Health Department and the ICDS scheme. This joint approach ensured shared goals and more coordinated action plans.

The inclusion of key government officials helped to:

The Role of Technology: Poshan Tracker in Action

Launched as part of the Poshan Abhiyaan, the Poshan Tracker App is a mobile-based tool for tracking nutrition-related data of beneficiaries. It enables last-mile delivery of services by recording data on:

The block coordinator from ICDS demonstrated live use of the app, helping workers:

Learn more about the app on the Ministry of Women and Child Development site.

Why Nutrition Workshops Should Be Replicated and Scaled

According to a 2024 report by UNICEF India, community-based nutrition education initiatives lead to significant improvements in child growth outcomes and maternal awareness.

Replication of workshops like the one in East Champaran can:

Moreover, such initiatives align with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), driving India’s commitment to sustainable development.

A step forward, but many miles to go

Workshops like the one conducted in East Champaran offer more than just information—they inspire transformation. By equipping frontline workers with practical skills and digital tools, we strengthen the backbone of rural health infrastructure.

While there are no silver bullets for malnutrition, consistent efforts at the grassroots level, supported by data-driven policies and collaborative partnerships, are showing us the way forward. The path is long, but with each workshop, we get closer to a healthier India.

The post The Role of Nutrition Workshops in Combating Malnutrition and Improving Health appeared first on S M Sehgal Foundation.