The SuPoshan Sanginis worked with extra zeal during the disruption, found innovative ways to reach beneficiaries in spite of the pandemic
Recognising the “dedication and zeal” of the SuPoshan Sanginis as the real reasons behind the success of the Fortune SuPoshan campaign, 640 SuPoshan Sanginis were appreciated on International Women’s Day.
As per a company note, the SuPoshan Sanginis found innovative ways to connect with the intended beneficiaries, and to reach out to them to ensure the pandemic had little effect on their work.
The Fortune SuPoshan movement, an initiative implemented by Adani Foundation is aimed at improving nutritional status of children of up to five years, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Its activities are carried out at 23 locations in 12 states, covering 1,268 villages, and 106 slums.
In less than five years, the movement has touched the lives of around 16 lakh people and reached out to over 1 lakh children, more than 96,000 adolescent girls and 2.68 lakh women in reproductive age.
The SuPoshan Sanginis are resource persons at the village level for malnutrition and anaemia and complement the role of anganwadi workers. They are usually the first contact person for awareness generation and community mobilisation. Their activities include visiting households aims to reduce the occurrence of malnutrition among children, to reduce malnutrition and anaemia among adolescent girls and women in reproductive age group, to support efforts in reducing Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). They ensure beneficiaries have a proper food intake regime, providing necessary counselling, and conducting group meetings and discussions for subjects related to malnutrition and anaemia.
Because of the scale and scope, the work is challenging to say the least, and it was more so during the lockdown. However, the Sanginis ensured their work was not affected, and came out with flying colours.
“The dedication and zeal of the SuPoshan Sanginis are the real reasons behind the success of the Fortune SuPoshan campaign. True to the spirit of womanhood, they look at their activities not as work, but as a social commitment. This International Women’s Day, we laud their spirit and express our wholehearted gratitude towards each of the Sanginis,” said Ajay Motwani, Chief Marketing Officer, Adani Wilmar.
Since personal meetings and household visits were not possible, they offered telephonic counselling to thousands of beneficiaries, including mothers of malnourished children, pregnant women and adolescent girls, on issues such as exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, nutrition needs of malnourished children, proper diet for adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, COVID-19 awareness, etc.
The SuPoshan team also marked various important occasions during the year through a host of activities. The Poshan Maah or Nutrition Month was also celebrated with multiple activities from September 1 to 30, with the focus on creating awareness. Rangoli making, slogan writing, drawing, quiz, kitchen garden development, and cooking demos were organised during the month.
The team also utilised the time and opportunity to upgrade their own skills. Nearly 300 staff and SuPoshan Sanginis completed courses and modules on relevant topics such as basic nutrition, mother’s health, infant and your child feeding anaemia, food fortification, immunisation, etc.