7th October 2024: Following a historic feat of serving over 1 crore children across various parts of the country, Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust has now joined forces with the Government of Karnataka and CreditAccessGrameen Limited Foundation to further enhance the reach towards Anganwadi children.
In addition to our ongoing support for school-going children, the Trust is now taking a more targeted approach by prioritizing the needs of SAM & MAM children who require high-energy, nutrient-dense food, specifically addressing malnutrition. The critical intervention starts with children aged 3 to 6 years in the Anganwadi sections. These early interventions will help ensure proper growth and prevent conditions like anemia, wasting, and stunting. The first phase of the collaborative initiative is expected to improve the lives of close to 4,000 children in the aspirational district of Yadgir, along with Chamarajanagar, Bagalkot, Haveri, & Dharwad in Karnataka state.
Siddeshwara N K A S, Director at Women & Child Development, Govt. of Karnataka, says, “It’s heartening to see corporations and NGOs stepping forward to collaborate with the government. Such partnerships hold immense potential for creating a meaningful and lasting impact.” Marking the commencement of this important initiative, a formal MOU was signed on September 18, 2024. The Minister of Women and Child Development, Lakshmi R. Hebbalkar, congratulated Annapoorna Trust, CreditAccess Grameen, & directors of Women & Child Development for their initiatives to combat malnutrition in SAM and MAM children in Karnataka state.
Elaborating further on the newly-inked initiative, Mr. Anand Kumar Kadali, Trustee and Secretary of Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, said, “Focusing on ensuring high-energy and nutrient-rich food supplements to combat the issue of malnutrition in Karnataka, we intend to reach out, especially to kids between the ages of 3-6 who are either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. We thank the Government of Karnataka, CreditAccess Grameen, for supporting the Annapoorna family’s mission to end malnutrition and hidden hunger across India.”
Founded by Sri Madhusudan Sai, a global humanitarian and spiritual leader, the Annapoorna Trust has been working towards eliminating hidden hunger and malnutrition across at least 25 Indian states and 4 Union Territories.
