Odisha’s Community-Driven Model to Combat Malnutrition in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

Odisha’s Community-Driven Model to Combat Malnutrition in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

Problem

High prevalence of undernutrition among the PVTG community
Need for improving health and nutrition status of women and children within PVTG communities
Challenges in integrating and coordinating with multiple departments for the program’s implementation
Resistance from PVTGs to accept changes due to their slow learning tendency
Need for capacity building and sensitisation at multiple levels to ensure the success of the program

Solution

Launch of OPELIP’s special outreach programme: Odisha PVTG Nutritional Improvement Programme (OPNIP)
Three critical interventions: Matru Sishu Poshan Kendra (MSPK) cum creches, Maternal Spot Feeding Centres (MSFCs), and Spot Feeding Centres for children in 3-6 yrs (SFCs)
Focus on the first 1000 days of life, emphasizing the life cycle approach
Community-driven approach with PVTG SHG women taking lead roles in programme implementation
Creation of decentralised and community-based feeding centers to address the gaps in nutrition delivery

Outcomes

Successful establishment and operation of 61 MSPK cum Creches, 119 MSFCs, and 105 SFCs, impacting thousands of children and mothers
Significant improvement in nutritional status among PVTG children, with increased percentage points in normal weight for age and weight for height
Appreciation from renowned institutions like NITI AAYOG, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and international agencies like IFAD, UNICEF, and WFP
Enhanced community ownership and empowerment, especially among PVTG SHG women
Plans for program expansion to cover more PVTG villages

Project Details

Category: Healthcare
Project Title: Odisha PVTG Nutrition Improvement Programme (OPNIP)
Department or District: ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department
State: Odisha
Start Date of the Project: August 1, 2016 (under OPELIP); nutrition-specific interventions under OPNIP began in April 2021
Website: https://stsc.odisha.gov.in/

Tribe(s) that the Project Covers: The programme covers all 13 PVTG communities of Odisha.

Keywords: PVTG, Nutrition, SHG, Community Participation, Maternal and Child Health, Early Childhood Development, ICDS, Tribal Empowerment, Rural Health

In the tribal heartlands of Odisha, where health and nutrition indicators are among the poorest in the country, the Odisha PVTG Nutrition Improvement Programme (OPNIP) was launched as a transformative intervention. Implemented under the broader Odisha PVTG Empowerment and Livelihoods Improvement Programme (OPELIP), OPNIP addresses the systemic malnutrition and care deficits among PVTG communities through community-led models anchored in women’s self-help groups (SHGs). The programme focuses on the critical window of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, recognized globally as essential for long-term health and cognitive outcomes.

The Project

OPNIP is an integrated, life-cycle-based nutrition intervention that focuses on three primary pillars: crèches for infants (6 months–3 years), spot feeding centres for young children (3–6 years), and feeding centres for pregnant and lactating mothers. These services are delivered in the remotest villages, many of which lack functional Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), through the leadership and engagement of local PVTG SHG women. The programme is built on convergence between multiple government departments, especially Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti.

Problems that it Intends to Solve

The programme seeks to address several interlinked issues. In remote tribal habitations, working mothers often leave infants at home under the care of elder siblings, affecting both child development and school attendance of the older children. Additionally, PVTG women frequently lack access to nutritious meals during pregnancy and post-partum phases, increasing risks of maternal and infant mortality. Children in the 3–6 year age group are unable to regularly access AWCs due to distance and terrain, leading to poor supplementary nutrition intake and developmental lags.

What was the Need

Surveys and health screenings showed alarmingly high rates of underweight and stunted children in PVTG communities. Existing ICDS services could not penetrate inaccessible areas, and there was a clear lack of culturally appropriate, community-owned solutions. OPNIP emerged from the recognition that a decentralized, SHG-led model rooted in the communities themselves would yield higher acceptance and sustainability.

What Hindered its Introduction

Initial implementation was delayed due to the requirement of obtaining multi-departmental approvals and the hesitation of PVTG communities in accepting new institutional practices. Convincing women’s groups to run centres, managing infrastructure in difficult terrains, and sensitizing local populations to nutritional best practices required sustained effort, training, and coordination.

Process Followed for Implementation

The Department of ST & SC Development initiated the programme with formal approvals from Women & Child Development. A well-defined organogram was put in place, with Nutrition Coordinators at Micro Project Agency (MPA) levels and POSHAN Sahayaks at the Gram Panchayat level. SHGs were selected transparently and trained through a cascade model. NGOs facilitated capacity building, provided handholding support, and helped mobilize local leadership. Construction of dedicated crèche infrastructure, procurement of utensils and learning aids, and sensitization campaigns preceded the service rollout.

Government and Community Roles
Government departments provided financial and technical support, while the community—particularly SHG women—took ownership of running the centres. Mothers from the villages contributed vegetables for crèche meals, maintained kitchen gardens, and participated in recipe demonstrations. Village Development Committees oversaw the initiative and ensured local accountability.

Solutions Implemented

Three interventions now operate under OPNIP. The Matru Sishu Poshan Kendras (MSPKs) provide three meals, anthropometric tracking, rest, and early learning stimulation to children aged 6 months to 3 years. The Maternal Spot Feeding Centres (MSFCs) offer pregnant and lactating women one hot cooked meal daily for 375 days, promoting maternal nutrition. Spot Feeding Centres (SFCs) cater to children aged 3–6 years with morning snacks and hot meals, especially in habitations without AWCs.

Details of the Coverage

As of May 2023, 61 MSPKs serve 865 children under 3 years, 119 MSFCs support over 1,060 mothers, and 105 SFCs reach 1,221 children aged 3-6 across 12 districts, 89 blocks, and 17 MPAs.

Innovation and Unique Features

The most pioneering aspect of OPNIP is its entirely community-managed delivery model. This is the first instance in India where PVTG SHGs are solely responsible for daily operations of nutrition centres. Innovations include promotion of local kitchen gardens, solar-powered facilities, participatory learning modules for health education, and scientific monitoring through e-Kalika MIS. Infrastructure such as colourful play zones, clean water stations, and educational tools like LED TVs enhance child development outcomes.

Continuous feedback led to new practices such as backyard garden exposure for mothers, integration of mobile health units, and additional training on IFA and calcium supplementation. Community feedback loops ensured culturally appropriate changes in food practices and scheduling.

Challenges Faced Before Implementation

Key internal hurdles included aligning inter-departmental goals, ensuring timely fund disbursement, and training government field staff. Externally, there was community resistance due to low literacy and mistrust, logistical barriers in transporting supplies, and difficulty constructing facilities in hilly terrains.

Challenges Faced During Implementation

Maintaining regular attendance of beneficiaries, sustaining SHG motivation, and ensuring meal quality posed continuous challenges. Timely delivery of supplies and coordination among monitoring entities also demanded agile management.

Mitigation Strategies

Proactive steps included community exposure visits, involvement of local influencers, additional nutrition workshops, and decentralizing monitoring through VDCs. Periodic reviews ensured prompt corrective actions and trust-building.

Outcomes

Quantitatively, weight-for-age among children improved from 39.1% to 46.1%, and weight-for-height from 69.8% to 78.9%. However, height-for-age (stunting) showed a slight rise from 25.6% to 27.6%, indicating a need for long-term investment. Qualitatively, mothers now show increased awareness of dietary diversity, children receive early education inputs, and older siblings—especially girls—are free to return to school. The visibility of empowered tribal women running these centres has become a beacon for community-led change.

Regular growth tracking, field-level supervision by POSHAN Sahayaks, and monthly MIS reporting through e-Kalika ensure evidence-based programme adjustments. High-level visits from national leaders, including NITI Aayog and MoTA officials, have endorsed the programme.

Replicability / Scalability / Sustainability

Given its high acceptance and demand from neighbouring villages, OPNIP is poised for scale-up. Plans are underway to expand to 541 existing and 1,138 newly notified PVTG villages under OPELIP Phase II. Additional funding from the District Mineral Fund (DMF) and SOPAN initiatives of the W&CD Department support sustainability.

OPNIP operates within existing policy frameworks like ICDS and POSHAN Abhiyan, supplemented with OPELIP and DMF resources. A future expansion budget of ₹299 lakh has been proposed, ensuring financial sustainability and replicability at the state and national level.