Malnutrition History of Melghat:

The World Bank estimates that India is one of the highest-ranking countries in the world for the number of children suffering from malnutrition. It has been over 20 years since Melghat, in Maharashtra’s Amravati district, shot to infamy on the back of malnutrition deaths of children. The first time malnutrition was reported, 5,000 children had died, and today as we talk about a Swachh and Swasth Bharat, thousands of children are still falling prey to malnutrition.

The inhabitants here are from the Korku tribal community who are very marginalized and barely have access to medical care, sanitation, and proper hygiene. The mothers are pretty anemic and undernourished themselves. Superstition also keeps them away from medical care, and people still prefer going to the bhumka because of their beliefs.

Why are Melghat’s Adivasi children malnourished and still dying?

Melghat, comprising the talukas of Dharni and Chikhaldhara, stretches across a vast expanse of forest and a ger reserve. It first made news for malnutrition in the 1990s when over 5,700 children died, according to data from the health department and a response to an RTI request.

Innumerable reports, surveys, and papers have been written by medical practitioners, including Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Ashish Satav, detailing the high prevalence of severe malnutrition among Adivasi children under five in Melghat. They all suggested effective measures to control child deaths.

The situation has improved since the 1990s, but between 400 and 500 children still die every year. In 2019, about 409 children under six died, according to an RTI response and the Amravati Zilla Parishad.

How will Annamrita support?

We will try and serve different varieties of Dal and Subjis on all six days a week. Tentative Protein Iron and Calcium Rich Menu will be

Rice / Pulav / Variety Rice
Dal Moong (yellow or green)/Tur Dal Chana
Barba(Chauli)/Matki
Cholle /Rajma etc
Subji of Fresh Green Vegetables especially Palak/ Drumsticks/Carrots etc
Chappas preferably made of multigrain atta.
Chaas/Buttermilk with added Calcium Carbonate (Lime/Chuna)
Chutney of Mint(Pudina) Curry Leaves(Kaddipaa) Udada Dal etc.
Laddu made of Desi Ghee Desi Gud (Jaggery), Groundnuts Daliya, and other nutritional ingredients along with multigrain atta.
Also, we will serve Salads of Fresh green Vegetables and Sprouts Daily.

How Annamrita maintains the quality of the food?

The food cooked in our Kitchens is prepared using machines wherein human intervention is minimal, which ensures very high standards of Hygiene, and the food is of very high quality in terms of variety and nutrition value. All cooked food is packed in Stainless Steel 304 Grade insulated containers (Hot Pot) in which the food remains hot for more than 5 to 6 hours so that when the person eats the food, it is hot and tasty and retains its freshness. The containers are sealed and then loaded into respective vehicles for delivery at respective Anganwadi Centre or school. It is handed over to the concerned person after physical verification of the seal by the receiver.

After the Driver has delivered all the containers of the Delivery Vehicles, collect all the used containers on the way back. He delivers it back to the Centralized Kitchen, where it is cleaned with three types of hot Soap and Chlorine water to ensure the highest standard of Hygiene, and it is ready for use the next day. All our delivery vehicles are cleaned daily, and once a week, the whole vehicle is fumigated thoroughly. All our Kitchen staff is examined once in 6 months to ensure that they are not affected by any contagious disease that may affect the quality of cooked food.

With us at Annamrita, You can be assured of the best quality of the food which will be high in Nutrition wherein highest standards of Hygiene and punctuality of delivery of food even during the rainy season and all this even as the food remains hot tasty and fresh when eaten by the beneficiary.

We need your support in this movement to end malnutrition:

Donate Rs. 500 or more to feed a pregnant/lactating woman:

Donate Rs. 10 or more to feed a malnourished child:

Annamrita was successfully distributing 14 Lakh Meals every day thru its more than 25 Central Kitchens before Pandemic. During Pandemic, Annamrita and its associate organizations distributed more than 10 Crore fresh hot cooked meals to needy people like migrant laborers, Covid Patients, their relatives, Senior Citizens, etc.

“Malnutrition is a Curse on Humanity which needs to be eradicated with consistent suport and help from all sections of society irrespective of their Social Status.”

Our Humble request to you all is to help support this Noble Cause by contributing Generously. Please share this campaign with your friends and peers.

Sponsor meals for tribal children and pregnant women in the malnutrition capital of Maharashtra