Project Vikas Samvaad Samiti (VSS)

Campaign Story

About the project

The health status of the Sahariya tribe in Madhya Pradesh remains deeply compromised, primarily due to severe undernutrition, prevailing social taboos, poor hygiene practices, and low literacy levels. Children, in particular, suffer the most, malnutrition making them vulnerable to diseases like Marasmus, Kwashiorkor, and Tuberculosis. As a result, the rates of neo-natal, infant, and child deaths in the region are alarmingly high. Many of the families here are migrants and lack proper identity documents, making it difficult for them to access government welfare programs or enroll their children in public schools.

Making a difference

CRY America’s Project VSS is working to improve healthcare access for women and children, while also ensuring quality education for children living in 15 villages and 5 slums of Bhopal district. Key interventions include strengthening Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), promoting institutional deliveries among women, identifying and referring children for treatment suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), and enrolling or re-enrolling first-time learners and children who have dropped out of school.

The Way Forward

● Ensure functioning of Village Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Committees (VHSNC) in 17 AWCs.

● Engage 15 community volunteers to assess the quality of maternal health and nutrition services under welfare programs.

● Track 222 pregnant women and ensure 100% ANC checkups, immunization, and provision of iron tablets.

● Organize 4 health camps focused on maternal and child health, with a minimum engagement of 800 people.

● Facilitate 45 Frontline Workers (FLWs) and community group members to demonstrate healthy food choices to combat malnutrition.

● Conduct growth monitoring of 890 children to improve their nutritional status.

● Refer 38 identified SUW children to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs).

● Conduct Parent Module sessions with the participation of 250 parents.

● Support the education of 292 children through Child Activity Centres (CACs) to bridge their learning gaps.

● Ensure 778 children aged 6–18 years have access to education.

The Way Forward

● 100% targeted people from reference communities will get awareness training during the project period about COVID-19 & its protection systems
● Survival of newborn children ensured through strengthening preventive and protective mechanisms on maternal and child health
● Reduction in the cases of undernourished children
● Combat child malnutrition through strengthening the livelihood system of the community and also enhancing household food security
● Provide critical education support in this extended gap period, so that children can return to school with confidence

Project Impact

children underwent capacity building training on various health programs

225

Members of Village Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) sensitized on health & nutrition services.

institutional deliveries out of total 186 deliveries

216

Pregnant women immunized.

children referred to Nutrition Rehabilitation Center & 22 recovered

165

Institutional deliveries ensured.

children underwent age-appropriate immunization

47

Women linked to government maternity welfare programs.

adolescent girls trained in menstrual hygiene and on how to avoid anemia

3,250

Households sensitized on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices.

babies were breastfed within the first hour of birth, ensuring the crucial intake of colostrum

439

Adolescents participated in Menstrual Hygiene Management sessions.

children underwent age-appropriate immunization

286

Severe and Moderate Underweight children(SUW/MUW) identified.

adolescent girls trained in menstrual hygiene and on how to avoid anemia

38

SUW children referred to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs).

babies were breastfed within the first hour of birth, ensuring the crucial intake of colostrum

292

Children received academic support through the Child Activity Centre (CACs)

seed banks, involving 270 community members, have been strategically established

18

Children financially supported for National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) admission

Last Year’s Grant Disbursed : $58,146

Current Year’s Approved Grant

Health$24,771
Nutrition$8,287
Education$19,195
Administration$9,940
Total Budget$62,193
VSS story pic

Divya’s path to recovery

Divya*, a 57-month-old girl, weighed only 11 kgs when she was diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Her condition worsened due to frequent diarrhoea, fever, and lack of nearby healthcare. Her mother, already overwhelmed with a newborn, struggled to manage Divya’s nutrition and breastfeeding together. When CRY America’s project team learned about her situation, they quickly visited the family and spoke to her parents. They educated them on the importance of a balanced diet and timely vaccinations.

To support her recovery, the team linked the family to a government poultry farming program for regular access to protein. They also helped set up a small nutrition garden near the house with vegetable seeds for a steady supply of fresh food. To speed up her improvement, the family was given Nutrimix, a dietary supplement for infants under the Take Home Ration program.

With 15 days of close support, timely receival of vaccinations and growth monitoring by frontline workers, Divya’s health finally improved. She has now moved from SAM to moderately underweight and is steadily recovering.

*Name changed and AI image used to protect child’s identity

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