Education India Project #31546

Fighting Malnutrition Through Child Care in India

by Seva Mandir

Project Report | May 15, 2023
Wishing a Happy Mother's day!

By Priyanka Singh & the Seva Mandir team | Project Associate

It is significant for women to be involved in the economic development process to have an inclusive and positive impacts on long-term Development goals. Women's representation in the workforce is still a huge challenge, owing to socio-economic restrictions and the patriarchal mindset of them taking greater responsibility for the care of children".

In context of rural tribal regions, due to lack of supporting facilities, there is guilt accompanied by fear among mothers when they leave their child alone and go to work to in order to earn a living.

Seva Mandir has been running Balwadi’s (day care centre for kids) in rural and tribal village of Rajasthan, which provides kids a safe space, nutritious food and educational material. Balwadis allow working mothers in rural and tribal areas of south Rajasthan, to earn essential income or work in the fields to support their families without having to fear for the safety of their children while they are away.

Bhuri from Kotra village, has always been skeptical about leaving her 4 years old son Ghanshayam alone with elder siblings, and would worry and feel guilt while she would go for work to earn an income. Until she was persuaded to send Ghanshaym to Seva Mandir’s Balwadi, where he was given day care support, while she worked hard in the field without being stressed about child care.

Mothers like Bhuri, must work to earn a living for their themselves and provide for their family. They desire to economically participate in the household and to fulfill their dreams. This is further cushioned and supported by Seva Mandir’s Balwadi facility. While the Balwadi’s support in the healthy development through the day care, it leaves the mothers to indulge, reflect and engage in other social, and community activities and devotee time to personal needs.

All thanks go to our faithful well-wishers and supporters like you who enable us to extend care to children from underprivileged communities and support their Mothers through our programmes.

We wish you and your family a very Happy Mothers’ day! If you’d may like to share, we would love to hear your thoughts as well over comments.

Should your travel bring you to this side of the world, please do consider visiting us.

Best regards,

Kids at day care, while mothers step out to work.

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Apr 28, 2023
18 months Reyanshi gets the best care!

By Priyanka Singh & the Seva Mandir team | Project Associate

"I work hard and happily because I know that Riyanshi is happy and will be healthy at the center." - Kailash, Riyanshi's mother

Riyanshi is 18 months old and youngest child at the Balwadi center(day care) in tribal area of Kojawara in south Rajasthan. She enrolled in 2022 as a regular student at the center. Her parents are daily wage laborers and travel to nearby town daily for work while Reyanshi, stays with the Sanchalika all the time and observes the activities at the center very carefully. She gets nutritious food at the centre. The Sanchalik also teaches Reyanshi through activities to prepare her for the formal education.

Seva Mandir runs full-day Balwadis (literally, children’s gardens) for children aged one to five years like Reyanshi, who live in areas where government or other childcare services are not available for children. The day cares are critical support for mothers in tribal areas as it allows them to earn essential income or work in the fields to support their families without having to fear for the safety of their children while they were away.

Kailash, Riyanshi's mother happily commented "It is because of Balwadi center that I am able to go for work. I know that she is and will learn better things while staying healthy."

Every donation helps these children see their dreams of a better life. With as little as $10 you can help one child, like Riyanshi, receive nutritional meals in Balwadi for 3 months. To support this cause, please follow the link: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/childcare/. Given your faithful support, please consider becoming a monthly donor to resolve this shared cause.

All thanks go to our faithful well-wishers and supporters like you who enable us to extend care to children from underprivileged communities. . We do hope that you will continue to help the many children in need. Should your travel bring you to this side of the world, please do consider visiting is.

Best wishes,

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Jan 3, 2023
Let the New Year Bring Happiness to Everyone

By Atul Lekhra | Programme Incharge

Happy New Year

Dear Friend,

From all of us here in Seva Mandir we wish you and your family Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the New Year bring to you lots of love, laughter, and joy.

Your generosity is bringing cheer and hope to so many children. Thank you from Seva Mandir on behalf of 500,000 villagers we work with in Southern Rajasthan.

Six year old Ghanashyam attends a Balwadi (Seva Mandir’s day care cum pre-school center) located in Kotra block of Udaipur, one of the poorest areas of India. His mother was leaving him home unattended while she worked in the fields. He was malnourished when enrolled at the Balwadi centre.

Initially, her mother Bhuri was not ready to enroll her to the Balwadi and felt that home is the safe place for her child. She was not aware that her child is suffering from malnutrition. This is the case with most of the mothers in our working area. However, with much persuasion of the caretaker Rama who is also from the same village, Ghanashyam was enrolled at our Balwadi centre. Rama like other Balwadi care takers is trained for running Balwadi and on child health and nutrition. He gave Ghanashyam nutritious meals with extra fat content as per his needs. Ghanashyam was also given de-worming, vitamin and iron supplements as the part of the project.

When Ghanashyam enrolled in the Balwadi, he weighed 6.5 kg. After two months of regular care and nourishment, he weighed 7.5 kg. He is now in the ‘well-nourished’ category and his mother Bhuri is grateful that she decided to send her son to the Balwadi centre regularly for her child’s healthy growth.

Balwadis not only provide safe environment and nutrition to the tribal children, but also create much needed awareness on childcare to prevent further malnutrition in the generations to come.

Many children like Ghanashyam need support at the moment. Support a child like Ghanashyam. It only takes $10 to ensure nutritious meal to a child in tribal areas of Aravalli (mountain range) for three months. A small gesture from you can be life changing experience for many kids out there.

There is no joy better than the joy of giving and we do hope that you also feel the same pride by being part of our journey. We hope you continue to be part of our journey.

Please do consider visiting us when you travel to this part of the world. Children will be very happy to meet there secret Santa.

Best Wishes,

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir Team

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