The Analysis collaborated with Vikas Samvad Samiti, which is a research, documentation and capacity building organization primarily working in Madhya Pradesh. In the year 2015, VSS implemented ‘Project Dastak’, which is an initiative aimed at ending malnutrition in 100 villages of Madhya Pradesh. With the purpose of making communities self- reliant for food production, the project is aimed at working with communities to ensure food and nutrition security.
In order to understand the impact of Project Dastak, the Analysis conducted case study in 8 villages of Madhya Pradesh and brought together its learnings in the report titled ‘Management of Malnutrition (SDG2.2)- Learnings from the Integrated Community based Local Resource centric Approach- The Vikas Samvad Way’. As a part of the case study, various in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with women, men and adolescents.
The Analysis seeked to understand the multiple aspects which work behind ensuring food security such as access to regular water, sanitation and hygiene, role of women in ensuring robust food production and nutrition security, significance of kitchen gardens and importance of sensitizing panchayats on the issue of malnutrition. A comprehensive literature review was also conducted besides the case study, which largely consisted of reports by VSS, UNICEF’s report on Maternal and Child Nutrition, National Family Health Survey-5 and the National Food Security Act, 2013.
This 21 pages long report brings forth key learnings and challenges of Project Dastak. The report showcases the potential of integrated community based models of malnutrition management and the magnification of the impact when local communities drive such interventions. It also highlights the importance of developing leadership and community engagement skills in women and youth to address malnutrition and food security. The report encourages using a multi-sectoral convergence approach with domains such as water management, forest resources, water etc to address the issue of malnutrition.
