Project Narmada – Direct Intervention

Campaign Story

About the project

The Dediapada block of Narmada district in Gujarat is a tribal-dominated area. Apart from the MNREGA program, there is little work available for members to support their families. People rely solely on monsoon farming, which is insufficient to sustain their livelihoods. The community’s health is severely impacted due to the low literacy rate. Children and women suffer from malnutrition and anemia because of poor eating habits. Immunization of new born children is irregular and not thoroughly monitored. Members lack nutritional awareness and cannot afford nutritious food. Additionally, Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), Government Centers, and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers lack sufficient infrastructure and facilities.

Making a difference

CRY America’s project in Narmada works to provide health and nutritional support to children and women in the community. Key activities under this project include registering pregnant women with AWCs, ensuring institutional deliveries, immunizing children, and helping them grow up healthy and free from malnutrition. Another key activity includes the formation of Children’s Collectives and Adolescent Collectives to address health issues such as anemia, reproductive health, education, and overall wellbeing.

The way forward

● Organize 60 food demonstration activities with 15 mothers’ groups
● Conduct 1,076 household visits to ensure access to safe drinking water
● Ensure immunization of 38 children aged 9–12 months
● Ensure institutional delivery for at least 89 pregnant women
● Facilitate pregnancy kits for 110 pregnant women
● Ensure regular growth monitoring of 336 children aged 6–36 months
● Ensure the transition of 38 severely underweight children to the moderate category and 96 moderately underweight children to complete recovery

Project Impact

270

Mothers sensitized on nutritious food habits

91

Women registered their pregnancy early at the Anganwadi

398

Girls sensitized through menstrual hygiene sessions

1,076

Households have access to safe drinking water

313

Girls availed hemoglobin testing sessions

117

Pregnant women linked to government programs for financial aid

203

Pregnant and lactating women received Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets

68

Institutional deliveries ensured

564

Adolescents received IFA tablets

364

Children aged 6 months to 3 years received Take-Home Ration (THR)

631

Children aged 6–60 months enrolled in Anganwadis

38

Children referred to Malnutrition Treatment Centers

25

Moderately underweight children moved to complete recovery

646

Children trained in Life Skills modules

Last year’s approved grant: $30,927

This year’s approved budget from Jan 2026 to Dec 2026:

Administration$1,517

Protection$30,539

Total Budget$32,056

Prerna Story

Prerna*, a 1.2-year-old girl, was found to be severely underweight, weighing just 6 kg, due to limited awareness within her family and lack of access to nutritious food. When the CRY America project team identified her condition during a growth monitoring assessment, they immediately visited her home.

The team patiently counselled her mother on the consequences of malnutrition and how it can be addressed through nutritious food, using visual aids to make it easier to understand. With the support of frontline workers, including the Anganwadi Worker (AWW), ASHA, and PHC health staff, the team encouraged the family to refer Prerna to the Community Malnutrition Treatment Centre (CMTC) for treatment. They also supported the family with travel arrangements and hospital admission.

In addition, the team counselled the mother on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, educating her on age-appropriate feeding frequency, locally available nutritious foods, hygiene practices, and responsive feeding techniques to ensure sustained improvement after discharge. After weeks of consistent care and support, Prerna’s health improved, and she moved from being severely underweight to moderately underweight. The project team continues to closely monitor her recovery at home, supporting her journey towards complete recovery.

*Name changed to protect child’s identity

Project Photo Gallery