Page 29 - Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21

24 Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21 25

Nutrition security

Rural nutrition has been a key focus area for Reliance Foundation. Reliance Nutrition Gardens (RNGs) Breaking the cycle of child malnutrition
provide rural families the support of a scientific, low cost, organic model of a multi-tier cropping Anganwadi workers, a cohort of By taking a small but meaningful step, Transformation Rural
system in which they can grow a variety of vegetables and fruits. dedicated women community leaders, she has bridged the nutritional gap,
often lead growth and transformation and she continues to ensure that no
Reliance Foundation promotes RNGs to address malnutrition, Department of Women and Child Development reaching out in the villages. One such leader, child in her community suffers from
especially among women and children, through the accessibility to over 11,000 individuals. Mahananda Phad of Kaarwadi village, malnutrition. She also helps many
of a nutritious diet in their backyard. After meeting family Gangakhed, Maharashtra, wanted to families access the fresh produce from
needs, excess produce can be monetised to augment the Over 11,400 participants (85% female, including adolescent ensure that every child in her community the kitchen garden and hopes that she
family income. During the pandemic, when supply chains girls, pregnant and lactating women) from 500 villages, had access to quality nutrition. To make will be able to motivate others to follow
were disrupted, RNGs ensured food and nutrition security not across 11 states in India, learnt about nutrition and the RNGs. this dream a reality she transformed her her example.
only for the family but also for the community, offering fresh Other initiatives included training on augmenting agricultural own backyard into a Reliance Nutrition
produce that was often shared among families. During the year, productivity, enhancing fishing outcomes and encouraging Garden (RNG). RNGs
over 10,000 RNGs were set up to ensure nutrition security. poultry, livestock and dairy farming. Today her RNG gives her a bounty of Support communities with access to
Reliance Foundation also supported the Rashtriya Poshan 10,000+ RNGs 13 different types of vegetables that she quality nutrition and are instrumental
Maah - an initiative of the Government of India. In September incorporates in the everyday meals of to growth and transformation in
2020 in collaboration with Anganwadis and staff of the Set up to ensure nutrition security her Anganwadi children. villages Mahananda Phad of Kaarwadi village, Gangakhed,
during FY 2020-21 Maharashtra

Making nutrition security a priority for the entire community
Sartama Devi of Patara village, Uttarkashi, conservation efforts, teaching women on
Uttrakhand is an example of what happens how to promote water storage and create
when a woman decides to take the lead compost pits for their kitchen gardens.
and help transform the entire community. Using an integrated approach Sartama
A change maker, Sartama is leading the promotes RNGs through convergence and
women in her village to create their very collective action.
own Reliance Nutrition Gardens(RNGs). She has walked the extra mile to help her
This move can not only help the women community with livelihood generation
in her community access quality nutrition opportunities in mushroom cultivation,
but also take a step towards micro livestock rearing and vegetable cultivation.
entrepreneurship.
By harnessing the power of shramdaan
Under the RNG initiative, she leads a (voluntary physical labour), she has
team of 94 members from the Him Patara also mobilised women to successfully
Gram Sangathan and a Federation of 10 clean water bodies in their villages and
SHGs. She has successfully trained many create 6,000 cubic metres of water
under her tutelage to build their own harvesting capacity. We salute her grit and
nutrition gardens and has linked them determination as she marches ahead,
to markets in an attempt to make them leading and becoming a role model for
self-reliant. A social entrepreneur, she has others.
also been leading her community in water

An action-driven leader inspiring change, Sartama Devi, Uttarakhand

Sartama Devi of Patara village, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand