Updated on 11.08.2008

Nutrition and Day Care Center

The Nutrition and Day Care Center is one of the components being implemented under the Health and Nutrition Unit of Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) through the Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP).  The Nutrition and Day Care Centers are in the process of being established in each of the villages in which SHGs have been formed.  Implementation started with establishment of Nutrition and Day Care Centers in villages of 45 pilot mandals,  

The field observations revealed that  there is a great need for improved  nutrition for the pregnant and lactating women as well as children in the villages.   The women do not consume adequate meals at home due to lack of food, lack of awareness to have a proper meal, or a combination of the two.  In addition, the gender discrimination between boys and girls from child hood makes the women more vulnerable to complications during adult hood. The purpose of the Nutrition Day Care Center is to provide two nutritionally balanced meals per day to pregnant and lactating women as well as children between 6 months and 5 years of age.  The goal of the Center is to reduce infant and maternal mortality, ensure healthy weight-for-age for infants and children, ensure adequate nutrition for lactating mothers, and provide day care services for children under 5 years so that women can work during the day.  It also serves as a venue for health education and social interaction among the beneficiaries.

 The Nutrition and Day Care Centers are set up in each village and are run entirely by the community (SHG) members.  This building serves as both the Nutrition and Day Care Center as well as the site of SHG meetings.  The beneficiaries come to the center twice a day for two complete meals (rice, two curries, dhal, fruit, green leafy vegetables, milk, egg and curd).  The meals are prepared by a cook who has been selected by the SHG members.  The cook is trained in preparation of nutritionally complete meals.  Food supplies for the Center are ordered once every two months and are supplemented with produce from the Community Kitchen Gardens that are owned and worked by SHG members.

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