National: Britannia Nutrition Foundation recently completed its 11 year anniversary in addressing child malnutrition in India.
Over these years, the Foundation has been collaborating with various government and non-government stakeholders to address malnutrition and iron deficiency anaemia among children, adolescents and women. The Foundation through its holistic programme approach is working to improve the nutritional status of the communities near Britannia’s manufacturing sites.
As a part of its ongoing commitment, the CSR arm of India’s largest bakery foods company, Britannia, is determined to positively impact over one lakh beneficiaries spread across more than 300 villages and slums in eight States. This is being achieved through its two flagship programmes – Swasth Bharat and Suposhan.
Swasth Bharat programme is directed towards addressing malnutrition in children under six years by focusing on the main contributing factors, including child feeding practices, dietary diversity, hygiene & sanitation, strengthening service access and delivery. Engaging and empowering communities, especially women, is also an important element of the programme to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. Suposhan programme addresses iron deficiency anaemia among adolescents by taking a comprehensive approach in the development of knowledge and encouraging a positive attitude towards proper health, nutrition and hygiene practices. These programmes are also extended through 300 Anganwadi Centres.
To date, through various initiatives, the lives of lakhs of people have been touched across five States – Bihar, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka. The support is being expanded to more states including Tamil Nadu, Assam and Maharashtra with an aim to reach the length and breadth of the country.
Varun Berry, Trustee, Britannia Nutrition Foundation said, “Child malnutrition is a chronic problem in India affecting one in every three children. The lack of access to nutrition leads to impaired growth and development. As we complete 11 years, Britannia Nutrition Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to combat malnutrition and supporting the government’s vision for a ‘Kuposhan’ (malnutrition) and Anemia‘Mukt’ Bharat. We are now enhancing our efforts to reach out to more than one lakh children, adolescents and mothers and working closely with district-level authorities and other partners to augment their efforts.’’
