givegrants

Life After 18: The State of Care Leavers in India

gg_admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:45:55 +0000

Every year, approximately 50,000 young adults walk out of India’s Child Care Institutions. On that day, the state’s responsibility ends. No housing, no income, no identity documents, no family to fall back on. For care leavers in India, turning 18 is not a milestone. It is a cliff edge.

This report maps what happens next — the gap between what the law promises and what young people actually experience when they leave care. It draws on over a decade of research, policy analysis, and ground-level evidence to examine why that gap has remained this wide, and what it will take to close it.

The Scale of the Crisis

India has 9,600 Child Care Institutions and the third-largest institutionalised child population in the world. Yet 67% of care leavers don’t know they are legally entitled to aftercare support. Nearly half remain financially dependent after leaving care. Among those who do find work, 93% earn between ₹7,500 and ₹8,500 a month — a wage that falls below subsistence level in any Indian city.

A System That Fails at the Threshold

The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 mandates aftercare support for all CCI exits. Mission Vatsalya promises a monthly stipend of ₹4,000 for young adults aged 18 to 21. In practice, most care leavers never access either — because they lack the foundational documents needed to claim them. Two in three exit without a voter card or PAN card. The catch-22 is stark: to get Aadhaar, you need a permanent address. To get an address, you need Aadhaar.

The Gender Dimension

The disadvantages compound for young women. 63% of female care leavers have no independent income after leaving care, compared to 36% of male care leavers. In most states, the system’s default response to a girl leaving a CCI is not opportunity — it is early marriage or placement in a destitute home. Of the five states studied, only two had dedicated aftercare housing for women.

Ground-Up Solutions and the Road Ahead

The most promising responses to this crisis are not coming from government ministries. They are being built by people who have lived through the cliff edge themselves. CLiC — founded by a care leaver in Jaipur — built Rajasthan’s first verified care leaver database in partnership with UNICEF. Udayan Care’s Aftercare Outreach Programme has placed over 200 young people in employment across five states. These are not pilots. They are proof of what targeted, community-rooted support can do.

The report sets out eight evidence-backed steps — from securing legal identity documents inside CCIs before a young person turns 17, to formally recognising ‘care leaver’ as a distinct vulnerable category in national policy.

The cliff edge is not inevitable. It is a policy choice. And policy choices can be changed.

Infographic

The post Life After 18: The State of Care Leavers in India appeared first on givegrants.

Union Budget 2026–27: What it signals for CSR in Education, Health, Jobs, Livelihoods & Social Justice

gg_admin — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:49:27 +0000

The Union Budget 2026–27 is not just a fiscal document, it’s a signal of where the Government expects market participation and partnerships to accelerate outcomes. The Budget is framed around three “kartavyas”: (1) accelerate and sustain growth, (2) build people’s capacity, and (3) ensure “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” through access to opportunities for all.

For CSR, this framing matters because it shifts CSR from isolated projects to “leveraged investments”. We can read the social sector implications under 4 lenses:

Education & skills are being framed less as “standalone spend” and more as pipelines into employment.
Health gets both higher allocations and district-level delivery intent (trauma care, mental health, affordability).
Jobs & livelihoods are being pushed through MSMEs, textiles, services, infrastructure and tourism.
Social justice and inclusion are positioned around capability and dignity, with targeted pathways for women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

Below is a sector wise lens of what the Budget emphasizes, and the big budget anchors:

Education

This year, the budget has a vision for education to move beyond “access” to “education-to-employment” ecosystems

5 University Townships near major industrial/logistics corridors—explicitly linking higher education, skilling, research, and residential ecosystems.
1 girls’ hostel in every district through VGF/Capital support —an access and retention lever for STEM and higher education.
A high-powered “Education to Employment and Enterprise” Standing Committee to drive services-led growth and assess AI’s impact on jobs/skills.
AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools + 500 colleges (via the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies in Mumbai).

Big budget anchors for Education:

Programme	Budget BE 2026–27 (INR Cr)
Samagra Shiksha	42,100
PM POSHAN	12,750
PM SHRI Schools	7,500
PM–USHA	1,850
Eklavya Model Residential Schools	7,150

Health

The Union Budget focuses on strengthening healthcare systems with higher allocations on district-level capacity, and explicit attention to emergency/trauma care and mental health access.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare allocation increases by ~10% over 2025-26
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission allocation rises to ₹4,770 crore (+67.66%), focused on critical care blocks, labs, and district/sub-district health infrastructure.
Health workforce focus: +100,000 Allied Health Professionals to be trained over 5 years and 1.5 lakh caregivers trained in the coming year.
Emergency & Trauma Care Centres in every district hospital; and explicit prioritization of trauma care access for vulnerable families.
Mental health: a new NIMHANS in North India (often referenced as “NIMHANS-2”) and upgrades to institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur.
Healthcare affordability: customs duty exemption on 17 life-saving drugs and import-duty exemptions extended to 7 additional rare diseases for personal imports.

Big budget anchors for Health:

Programme	Budget BE 2026–27 (INR Cr)
National Health Mission (Flexible Pool)	31,820
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY	9,500
PM–ABHIM	4,200
Human Resources for Health & Medical Education	1,725
Assistance to States for Public Health Infrastructure	4,200

Livelihoods

The Budget’s livelihoods agenda is focussed on increasing rural incomes by combining natural resource investments (water bodies/coastal value chains) with market linkages and productivity enablers. Jobs, on the other hand, are being increased by promoting MSME competitiveness with new risk capital and mechanisms to help smaller firms formalize, grow, and hire.

Integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars (water and rural resilience).
Fisheries value-chain strengthening with start-ups and women-led groups.
High-value crops and diversification (coconut, cocoa, cashew, etc.) to increase incomes and create rural employment.
Initiatives to strengthen khadi, handloom, handicrafts, including market linkages, training and skilling support.
Bharat-VISTAAR: a multilingual AI tool integrating AgriStack and ICAR practice packages to provide customized advisory support.
SHE-Marts to help women move from “credit-led livelihoods” to enterprise ownership (community-owned retail outlets).
₹2,000 crore top-up to the Self-Reliant India Fund to maintain risk-capital access for micro enterprises.
“Corporate Mitras”: short modular courses via ICAI, ICSI, ICMAI to support MSME compliance affordably in Tier-II/III towns.

Big budget anchors for Jobs & Livelihood:

Programme	Budget BE 2026–27 (INR Cr)
MGNREGA	30,000
Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) VB-G RAM G Scheme	95,692
DAY-NRLM	19,200
Watershed Development Component	2,500
PMAY–Gramin	54,917
PM Gram Sadak Yojana	19,000
PMMSY (Fisheries)	2,500
PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana	20,083
PM Internship Scheme	4,788
Skill India Programme	2,800
PM SETU (Upgraded ITIs)	6,141

Social Justice

The Budget positions inclusion as capability and dignity by strengthening women-led development, improving access to services, and expanding opportunity pathways for vulnerable groups including Divyangjan and elders.

Explicit targeting of vulnerable groups; and a strong focus on mental health and trauma care access for the poor.
Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana for task-oriented roles (IT/AVGC, hospitality, food & beverage), plus access to assistive devices and technology marts via ALIMCO.
Regional inclusion: targeted efforts for East and North-East development and employment opportunities.

Big budget anchors for Social Justice:

Programme	Budget BE 2026–27 (INR Cr)
Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0	23,100
Mission Shakti	3,605
Post Matric Scholarship for SCs	6,360
PM AJAY	2,140
PM YASASVI	2,320
Programme for Development of Scheduled Tribes	5,700

Budget 2026–27 doesn’t read like a “new scheme” year. It reads like a systems & added capacity year where government spending is present, but real impact depends on execution: skilled people, functioning facilities, last-mile platforms, and accountability for results.

The post Union Budget 2026–27: What it signals for CSR in Education, Health, Jobs, Livelihoods & Social Justice appeared first on givegrants.

The Indian Pharma CSR Landscape

gg_admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:38:25 +0000

India’s pharmaceutical sector plays a significant role in shaping the country’s healthcare-focused CSR landscape. A substantial share of pharma CSR spending is concentrated in healthcare, with investments largely directed toward primary care access, disease-specific interventions, healthcare infrastructure, and sanitation and nutrition. This concentration reflects how CSR activity in the sector is structured, with healthcare accounting for a markedly higher share of spending compared to the national CSR average.

Pharma CSR initiatives also show close alignment with India’s national health priorities and public health systems. Many programmes operate in partnership with government frameworks such as the National Health Mission, state health missions, and flagship health schemes, reinforcing service delivery at scale. At the same time, the broader landscape highlights patterns of overlap across geographies and themes, alongside persistent gaps in areas such as mental health, digital public health, workforce capacity, elderly care, and rare diseases. Together, these patterns offer a grounded view of how healthcare-focused CSR is currently deployed within the Indian pharma sector.

The post The Indian Pharma CSR Landscape appeared first on givegrants.

The Inevitable Storm – From Predictable Disasters to a Resilient Future: A New Role for CSR in India

gg_admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:27:35 +0000

India’s disaster landscape is changing rapidly as floods, droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves become more frequent and climate amplified. These events now follow clear patterns, affecting millions each year and disrupting economic stability, essential services, and long-term development outcomes. With $12 billion (₹1 lakh crore) in catastrophe losses in 2023 and 32.3 million disaster-linked displacements over the last decade, the scale of impact is deep and far-reaching.

This report brings together three decades of data to map how disaster risks are evolving, where vulnerabilities are rising, and what repeated losses mean for communities and institutions. It highlights India’s progress in saving lives, examines persistent system gaps, and outlines evidence-based approaches that can strengthen preparedness and resilience across sectors — insights that are increasingly relevant for CSR and philanthropic stakeholders working in high-risk geographies.

India’s Disaster Patterns: What the Data Shows

The report analyses national datasets to identify clear trends in disaster frequency, intensity, and geographic spread. With extremely heavy rainfall events rising by 63 percent and more than 40 percent of districts shifting between drought- and flood-prone states, India’s climate and risk profile is undergoing significant change.

Impact on Communities and Development Systems

Recurring disasters disrupt livelihoods, agriculture, education, health, and essential infrastructure. While cyclone preparedness has led to a 94 percent reduction in mortality, economic and social losses continue to increase, particularly in vulnerable and low-income regions.

System Strengths and Critical Gaps

India’s disaster management ecosystem combines strong forecasting capabilities with uneven local implementation. The report examines gaps in last-mile connectivity, decentralised capacity, vulnerability inclusion, and translation of data into district-level action — areas that influence both public systems and CSR-led initiatives.

Pathways to Resilience

Evidence from preparedness, response, and recovery points to scalable approaches such as hyper-local early warning systems, nature-based solutions, climate-resilient infrastructure, and flexible funding that enables timely action. These insights support organisations seeking to strengthen long-term resilience in high-risk communities.

[Infographic]

Sources

& 3. India’s economy and insurance market: growing rapidly, but mind the risk hot spots chrome- extension:/ efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/, 2025-01-14-swiss-re- institute-expertise-publication-india-economy-and-insurance-market
https://www.internal-displacement.org, https://www.ceew.in/sites/default/files, https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/iit-bombay-study-reveals-financial-impact-of-disasters-on-indian-states-calls-for-stronger-preparedness-and-climate-resilience/article69160200.ece
Mapping Climatic and Biological Disasters in India: Study of Spatial & Temporal Patterns and Lessons for Strengthening Resilience chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://nidm.gov.in/PDF/pubs/GIZNIDM_21.pdf
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/extremely-heavy-rainfall-events-across-india-surge-by-63-in-5-decades/articleshow/123724549.cms
https://www.g20climaterisks.org/india/
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/climate-change-could-shave-off-2-8-of-indias-gdp-by-2050-world-bank-1874988
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/06/19/india-climate-change-impacts
https://www.internal-displacement.org/news/disasters-triggered-nearly-265-million-forced-movements-over-the-past- decade/
India’s economy and insurance market: growing rapidly, but mind the risk hot spots chrome- extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.swissre.com/dam/jcr:4c54602e-f24f-4322-8e8a-bfd6ada77062/2025-01-14-swiss-re-%20institute-expertise-publication-india-economy-and-insurance-market.pdf
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/72-pc-districts-exposed-to-extreme-floods-only-25-pc-of-them-have-early-warning-systems-report/articleshow/101725130.cms?from=mdr, https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-proposed-solution-involving-the-states/article69229557.ece
https://www.preventionweb.net,
www.reuters.com/article/world/mass-evacuation-saves-indian-lives-as-cyclone-leaves-trail-of-destruction,
www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events,
www.theguardian.com/world/2021,
MCA CSR data (https://www.csr.gov.in/content/csr/global/master/home/home.html); Dataful (https://dataful.in/); Give Grants analysis.

The post The Inevitable Storm – From Predictable Disasters to a Resilient Future: A New Role for CSR in India appeared first on givegrants.

The Burdened State of Indian Mind | India’s Mental Health Crisis & SEL

gg_admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:08:26 +0000

India is facing one of the most urgent yet under-discussed public health and social challenges of our time — the mental health crisis. Today, 1 in 7 Indians lives with a mental disorder, yet between 70–92% receive no treatment. The consequences ripple across classrooms, workplaces, households, and the economy, with the projected economic loss between 2012–2030 reaching USD 1.03 trillion.
Mental Health Crisis in India: Facts & Figures
This report, The Burdened State of Indian Minds, published by Give Grants, presents a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the scale of the crisis, its economic and social costs, and the urgent need for action. Drawing from national surveys, global studies, and Indian case examples, it highlights how Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) can provide a proactive and scalable solution.
Economic and Social Costs of Mental Disorders in India
The economic burden is immense, affecting productivity, human capital, and overall societal well-being. Mental health disorders strain healthcare systems and cause substantial losses in workforce participation and academic achievement.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): A Scalable Solution
Research shows that SEL improves academic achievement, reduces bullying and emotional distress, and equips young people with the skills needed for future employment and well-being. With evidence pointing to an 11:1 return on investment and a rapidly growing Indian SEL market, this is not only a social imperative but also a strategic opportunity for CSR leaders and philanthropic investors.
Role of CSR and Philanthropy in Mental Health
By exploring barriers, mapping the ecosystem of government, nonprofit, and private actors, and laying out clear recommendations, this report serves as a roadmap for how India can embed SEL at scale. Investing in SEL today is an investment in human capital, productivity, and a healthier, more resilient society.

Download the full Burdened State of Indian Minds research now and join us in driving transformative change for mental health in India.

[Infographic]

The post The Burdened State of Indian Mind | India’s Mental Health Crisis & SEL appeared first on givegrants.

India’s Ageing Society: The Landscape Today

gg_admin — Fri, 09 May 2025 04:08:18 +0000

“Bytes: Practical Research for CSR” is a series by Give Grants designed to decode and demystify the extensive social impact research and data available in the form of clear and actionable insights for CSR practitioners in India.”

As India transitions from a much-celebrated young nation to an ageing society, its economic, healthcare, and social systems are struggling to keep pace. With 347 million elderly projected by 2050, the question is no longer if we need to act, but how soon and how well we do it. This research captures the scale of the challenge, presents the lived realities of those most affected, highlights the fragmented response across sectors, and underscores the urgent need for coordinated action.

[Infographic]

The post India’s Ageing Society: The Landscape Today appeared first on givegrants.

Reevaluating Climate Mitigation Strategies: The Case for Agroforestry

gg_admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 10:18:58 +0000

Global temperatures have surpassed the 1.5°C threshold and are on course to exceed 2°C by 2030, a level of warming that carries severe ecological and economic risks. While tree plantation has been a widely promoted solution for carbon sequestration, its scalability and efficiency remain limited. It is time to also consider variants like agroforestry.

The Limitations of Traditional Tree Planting

India’s forests currently hold a carbon stock of 7 billion metric tons, sequestering approximately 703 million metric tons of CO₂ annually, according to the India State of Forest Report. However, this sequestration remains insufficient, covering only 32% of the country’s annual CO₂ emissions, which stand at 2.2 billion metric tons. The feasibility of large-scale afforestation as a climate solution becomes even more challenging when examined through sequestration potential per tree.

According to the USDA, a single tree absorbs around 22 kg of CO₂ per year. At this rate, 100 billion trees would need to be planted annually to offset India’s current emissions. Beyond the sheer scale of plantation, the long-term maintenance and survival of these trees pose significant logistical and financial challenges, making afforestation alone an impractical standalone solution to India’s carbon mitigation strategy.

Challenges Hindering Large-Scale Agroforestry Adoption

Key Advantages of Agroforestry

Higher Carbon Sequestration Potential
- Research from ICAR estimates that agroforestry in India can sequester between 0.25 to 19.14 Mg C/ha/year—a significantly higher range than traditional monocultures.
- As per a meta-analysis Soil carbon stocks increase by an average of 21%, enhancing long-term carbon storage.
Enhanced Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- As per a report published in school of Natural Resources, University of Missouri,Agroforestry systems support 50-80% of biodiversity levels found in natural forests.
- A global meta-analysis shows 68% higher species diversity, 50% reduction in soil erosion, and 46% increase in soil nitrogen availability.
Agronomic Productivity and Economic Benefits
- In sub-Saharan Africa, agroforestry increased crop yields while maintaining critical ecosystem services.
- Studies in Europe demonstrate productivity gains of 36–100% depending on crop type and management practices.
- In the Philippines, smallholder farmers practicing agroforestry reported 42-137% higher earnings and improved food security.
Resilience to Climate Variability
- Agroforestry systems buffer against extreme weather events, enhancing long-term agricultural stability.
- Mixed cropping and perennial vegetation reduce vulnerability to droughts and floods.

Challenges Hindering Large-Scale Agroforestry Adoption

Despite its advantages, agroforestry adoption remains limited due to structural barriers:

High Initial Investment – Establishment costs are significant, with returns taking 3–8 years, compared to 1–2 years in conventional farming.
Limited Access to Finance and Markets – According to an article on ScienceDirect, credit access remains a challenge, and market linkages for agroforestry products are underdeveloped.
Knowledge Gaps – As highlighted in the Advances in Agroforestry book series, many farmers lack awareness of agroforestry techniques, and extension services remain inadequate.
Perceived Financial Risk – A report states that farmers often view agroforestry as less profitable, despite studies proving otherwise

Strategic Interventions to Accelerate Agroforestry Adoption

Scaling agroforestry requires a coordinated effort from governments, businesses, and research institutions. The following interventions can de-risk adoption and unlock economic value:

1. Financial Incentives and Investment

Governments can offer subsidies and tax incentives to offset establishment costs.
Impact investors can fund agroforestry projects through green bonds and blended finance models.

2. Capacity Building and Training

Public-private partnerships can scale farmer education initiatives.
Extension services can integrate agroforestry best practices into mainstream agricultural training.

3. Market Development and Supply Chain Strengthening

Strengthening value chains for agroforestry products (e.g., timber, fruits, and medicinal plants) can improve farmer profitability.
Governments can implement minimum support price (MSP) mechanisms for key agroforestry commodities.

4. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES)

PES schemes can provide monetary incentives for carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and water retention.
In Costa Rica, PES programs increased tree planting due to financial incentives for watershed protection and soil conservation.

5. Policy and Regulatory Reforms

Land rights policies should encourage long-term agroforestry investment, as seen in Peru’s agroforestry concessions model.
Agricultural credit reforms can enable financing mechanisms tailored to agroforestry systems.

Unlocking Agroforestry’s Potential for Climate and Economic Resilience

While traditional tree planting remains an important climate action tool, agroforestry offers a more scalable, resilient, and economically viable solution. Addressing adoption barriers through financial incentives, knowledge dissemination, market development, and regulatory support can accelerate agroforestry expansion.

For policymakers and investors, integrating agroforestry into national climate strategies and investment portfolios presents a multi-benefit opportunity—enhancing carbon sequestration, boosting agricultural productivity, and strengthening rural economies.

[Infographic] Reevaluating Climate Mitigation Strategies: The Case for Agroforestry

The post Reevaluating Climate Mitigation Strategies: The Case for Agroforestry appeared first on givegrants.

Understanding India’s Disability Landscape

gg_admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 10:27:16 +0000

The Indian disability landscape is shaped by systemic underrepresentation, affecting access to education, employment, and social participation for people with disabilities (PwDs). While multiple policies and initiatives exist to support them, their impact remains fragmented, often addressing specific challenges without resolving deeper structural barriers.

This report brings together key information to provide a holistic view of where PwDs stand today, the policies that influence their inclusion, and the gaps that still need attention. By presenting this comprehensive picture, we aim to contribute to a more informed understanding of the current state of disability inclusion in India.

[Infographic]

The post Understanding India’s Disability Landscape appeared first on givegrants.

Hidden Hunger: Tackling the Silent Crisis of Micronutrient Deficiencies

gg_admin — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:40:26 +0000

Food is life. We’ve all heard it and a bunch of folks around the world have felt it. The fortunate part is that access to food is available if not to all to the majority. The question arises, is food only filling the stomach or is it doing its part in growth and development?

The answer to this question is hidden much like “hidden hunger”. Hidden hunger is a term given to micronutrient malnutrition which has severe consequences on the health and development of mothers and children under the age of 5, with deficiencies contributing significantly to maternal and child mortality in India.

According to the WHO, micronutrients are required in very small quantities—less than 100 mg per day—but are essential for key biological processes such as hormone production, enzyme function, and overall growth and development. Deficiencies in key micronutrients such as iron, vitamin A, zinc, and folate pose serious public health challenges, as highlighted in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data.

The health impact of micronutrient deficiencies

Proven impact of micronutrient fortification and supplementation programs

Improving diets through diversification is the ideal way to address micronutrient deficiencies, but resource constraints, limited availability, and accessibility often make this approach insufficient. In such cases, food fortification, micronutrient supplements, and biofortification are widely recognized as effective and affordable complementary strategies to bridge the gap and meet nutritional needs.

What is Fortification and Supplementation?

Fortification involves the intentional addition of essential micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, to foods or condiments to enhance their nutritional value and address public health needs. This practice not only increases the nutrient content of commonly consumed staples but also helps replenish nutrients lost during food processing. As a well-researched and effective strategy, fortification plays a crucial role in preventing and reducing micronutrient deficiencies. Fortification can be categorized into four main types:

Biofortification which uses technology to breed staple crops with enriched levels of micronutrients and is mainly focused on zinc, iron and provitamin A carotenoids.
Mass fortification adds micronutrients to staple foods consumed by the general population, ensuring widespread nutritional benefits.
Targeted fortification focuses on vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children, to address specific nutritional needs. Examples include fortified wheat flour with iron and folic acid provided through maternal health programs to prevent anemia and neural tube defects, offering a cost-effective solution for at-risk populations.
Point-of-use fortification involves adding micronutrient powders directly to food at the time of consumption, often in households or schools. For instance, children receiving iron-containing

Supplementation provides micronutrients in concentrated forms, such as pills, capsules, or syrups, to individuals or groups at high risk of deficiencies. These include iron-folic acid tablets, vitamin A supplements, zinc tablets and ORS solutions.

The role of CSR

Driving Micronutrient Interventions: A Collaborative Approach

The effective implementation of fortification and supplementation programs requires a holistic strategy that integrates:

Policy: Governments establish regulations mandating or encouraging fortification of staple foods.
Production: Industries incorporate essential nutrients during food processing, ensuring quality and consistency.
Distribution: Public systems, healthcare initiatives, and retail markets deliver fortified foods to those in need.
Public Awareness: Community outreach campaigns promote understanding, acceptance, and adherence.

The Role of CSR Funding

Collaborative efforts, especially through CSR funding, are essential to complement government initiatives. CSR can:

Drive innovation and fund localized fortification projects.
Subsidize fortified foods for vulnerable populations.
Support awareness campaigns to increase adoption and impact.

Current Gaps

Despite efforts, fortification coverage remains low:

Edible oils, salt, and milk: Under 20% fortified.
Wheat flour: ~3% fortified.
Rice: 0.1%-0.2% fortified.
Up to 60% of fortified food fails to reach low-income women and children, the most vulnerable groups.

CSR in Action

CSR initiatives have already demonstrated significant potential in addressing malnutrition:

ITC’s Balposhan: This program focuses on combating child malnutrition through fortified foods, targeted interventions, and community engagement. By addressing nutritional gaps in underserved areas, ITC has created a scalable and impactful model.
Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme: Through education and awareness campaigns, this initiative equips schoolchildren and their families with knowledge about nutrition and healthy eating habits.

[Infographic] Hidden Hunger: The Silent Crisis

The post Hidden Hunger: Tackling the Silent Crisis of Micronutrient Deficiencies appeared first on givegrants.

Community Health Workers: A Proven Solution for Transforming Maternal and Child Health

gg_admin — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:18:37 +0000

In 2020, 287,000 women lost their lives to maternal deaths. According to WHO, the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined from 339 to 223 per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2020, a 34% reduction. Yet, the number of deaths is significant, with 95% occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). India’s MMR fell from 384 in 2000 to 103 in 2020, contributing to 8% of global maternal deaths, the second highest globally after Nigeria.

Child mortality has also improved globally. The under-5 mortality rate dropped from 93 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 37 in 2022, a 59% reduction. In India, the rate decreased from 34 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 29 in 2022.

The Preventable Causes

A significant portion of maternal and child mortality is due to preventable causes. Many of these, including bleeding, infections, preterm birth complications, and diarrheal diseases, can be avoided with timely access to skilled healthcare, improved sanitation, and proper nutrition. However, structural challenges, such as poverty, limited access to antenatal and postnatal care, low immunization rates, and a shortage of healthcare workers—especially in rural India, where 64% of the population lives—intensify these issues. Only 54% of rural mothers receive the recommended four antenatal visits, and institutional deliveries remain low. Additional barriers, like transportation difficulties and cultural stigmas, further restrict access to essential care.

Community Health Workers: A Proven Solution

Evidence shows that deploying community health workers (CHWs) is an effective solution. A CHW is a frontline public health professional who is a trusted member of and/or has an in-depth understanding of the community they serve. CHWs act as liaisons between health services and the community and play a critical role in implementing simple, cost-effective interventions that address preventable causes, significantly improving survival rates and overall health outcomes. CHWs have existed since the mid-20th century, with early programs like China’s Barefoot Doctors in the 1950s. Many global programs, such as India’s Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) program—one of the largest in the world with 9.8 lakh CHWs—have been successfully implemented since then.

CHWs perform a variety of roles to support community health, including one or a combination of the following:

CHWs have been instrumental in reducing preventable causes of maternal and child mortality across the globe. Here are a few successful examples:

Delivering Essential Medicines to Tackle Preventable Maternal and Child Mortality

Nepal: The delivery of uterotonics by CHWs increased the proportion of deliveries protected from post-partum hemorrhage (bleeding) from 11.6% to 74.2%, benefiting the poor, illiterate, and those in remote areas.
Afghanistan: A CHW program distributing misoprostol at home births achieved near-universal uterotonic coverage (92%) compared to 25% in control areas, with fewer adverse effects and 92% of women willing to use it again.
Burkina Faso: CHWs training mothers to administer antimalarial drugs reduced malaria progression in children under 6 by 55%, decreasing severe malaria risk from 11% to 5%.
Community-based Pneumonia Management: CHWs reduced pneumonia-specific mortality by 42% in neonates, 36% in infants, and 36% in children under 5, while also lowering total mortality by 27%, 20%, and 24%, respectively.
Liberia: CHWs improved treatment for childhood fever, diarrhea, and respiratory infections by 56.4%, with a 70% estimated reduction in pneumonia mortality in children aged 0-5.

Impact on Child Mortality

CHW Intervention: A review of 18 trials found that CHW-based intervention packages, including care during pregnancy, delivery, and the newborn period, significantly reduced neonatal mortality (relative risk (RR) 0.76), stillbirths (RR 0.84), perinatal mortality (RR 0.80), and maternal morbidity (RR 0.75) while increasing pregnancy-related referrals by 40% (RR 1.40) and early breastfeeding rates by 94% (RR 1.94).
Training Traditional Birth Attendants: A meta-analysis showed that training TBAs reduced perinatal mortality by 24–30% and neonatal mortality by 21–39%.

Key Behavioral Changes

13% of under-5 deaths could be prevented by the universal practice of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life, more than could be achieved by universal coverage of any other single intervention. A systematic review of RCTs in LMICs found that community-based interventions significantly improved exclusive breastfeeding rates at 4–6 months. Across four studies from different countries, the pooled odds ratio was 5.90, indicating that such interventions substantially increase the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding in settings where only 25% of infants are exclusively breastfed until 6 months. A CHW home visiting program in rural South Africa demonstrated improved exclusive breastfeeding rates (OR: 1.8), reduced mixing of formula with porridge (OR: 0.4).
Pakistan: CHW home visits promoting hand washing reduced childhood diarrhea by 53% and pneumonia by 50%.
Global Impact: A systematic review of seven RCTs in Bangladesh, India, Malawi, and Nepal showed that women’s groups led to a 23% reduction in neonatal mortality and 37% in maternal mortality.

Family Planning Initiatives

Safe Family Planning: A recent review of the effectiveness of CHWs showcased that CHWs can safely provide birth control methods, including pills, condoms, emergency contraception, and injectables, and effectively promote the standard days method and lactational amenorrhea method.

Leveraging CSR to Address Maternal and Child Mortality in India

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding in India presents a powerful opportunity to tackle the challenges of maternal and child mortality. By supporting Community Health Workers (CHWs), CSR initiatives can help bridge gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved rural areas. Here’s how some leading companies are making a difference:

Reckitt’s Dettol Banega Swasth India Program
Reckitt has collaborated with public health systems and NGOs to drive several impactful initiatives. Their efforts focus on:
- Promoting hygiene among children.
- Reducing diarrhea through the Diarrhoea Net Zero campaign.
- Combating malaria via the Mission Zero Malaria initiative.
- Addressing anemia, malnutrition, and infectious diseases by distributing self-care kits.
ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited’s Integrated Maternal and Child Health Program
In partnership with SNEHA, ZEE Entertainment is addressing maternal and child health gaps in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. The program employs a community-based approach to:
- Improve access to quality antenatal care and ensure safe delivery practices.
- Strengthen local health systems by building the capacity of CHWs.
- Foster community engagement to promote health-seeking behaviors.
Tata Steel’s Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative (MANSI)
Tata Steel’s MANSI program works with government health volunteers (ASHAs) in Jharkhand and Odisha to combat neonatal and infant mortality. This initiative has led to impressive results, including:
- A 61% reduction in neonatal mortality.
- A 63% reduction in infant mortality in pilot areas.

These programs underscore the importance of aligning CSR efforts with public health systems to improve healthcare outcomes. By investing in CHWs and community-driven health solutions, CSR initiatives play a crucial role in delivering better antenatal care, safer childbirth, and improved child health outcomes in India.

[Infographic] Transforming maternal & child health in rural India

The post Community Health Workers: A Proven Solution for Transforming Maternal and Child Health appeared first on givegrants.