Spandan Samaj Seva Samiti

The Backyard Nutrition Gardens initiative assists mothers of malnourished children, high-risk pregnant women, and adolescent girls in utilizing their backyards to cultivate a diverse range of seasonal vegetables for inclusion in their diets. Through the provision of 10-14 varieties of vegetable seeds, numerous families are showing positive changes in their behaviour by incorporating a wider variety of vegetables into their diets.

Since the 1970s, a significant agricultural shift led the Korku community to abandon their traditional crops and Millets in favour of soybeans and wheat. Traditional Millets like Kodo-Kutki, Sawa, Jowar, and others gradually disappeared from their cultivation practices. Soybean never integrated into their food culture, and most of the wheat is sold to settle debts and address other immediate needs, leaving very little for household consumption. This situation triggers household hunger, contributing to the fact that 35% of children below six years suffer from stunted growth. This stunting is widely believed to result from persistent hunger prevalent in the area. To counter this, the organization has initiated a campaign to reintroduce cultural crops and Millets in the community. These sustained efforts have encouraged over 1000 families to allocate a portion of their fields for growing Millets. Millet Banks have also been established to provide seeds to interested farmers.

The organisation has initiated efforts to encourage the greater adoption of organic manure, pesticides, and plant growth solutions. Numerous families have enthusiastically embraced these practices and have emerged as role models for others to follow. Farmer's Field Schools have been organized to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and exposure to innovative agricultural practices among farmers.

This initiative is aimed at unravelling the mysteries surrounding malnutrition within this indigenous tribal community. After transitioning from their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled existence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they have retained their ancient beliefs, rituals, and reliance on traditional priests and healers who utilize herbs, chants, rituals, and sacrifices to cure various ailments. Consequently, the challenge lies in cultivating a scientific mindset and instilling confidence in the government health system. The approach involves educating traditional priests and healers about the causes and effects of malnutrition, demonstrating the use of MUAC tapes to measure malnutrition, and teaching them to recognize seven physical symptoms indicating malnourishment in a child. The organisation encourages them to prioritize scientific treatments over rites and rituals.

Korku, categorised as one of the 196 endangered languages by UNESCO, lacks a script and relies solely on oral traditions. In the endeavour to preserve this language, the organisation has conducted extensive research, documented it meticulously, and curated Teaching-Learning Materials (TLM) tailored for Anganwadis and other awareness materials. It has also undertaken comprehensive documentation of their history, folklore, and cultural heritage, aiming to pass this valuable knowledge to the next generation. These efforts have sparked significant awareness, prompting active involvement from numerous Korku individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving their language and culture.

The organisation initiated this effort after noticing that children were only present during meal times and showed reluctance to stay at the center. To improve this, it mobilized resources from the civil society and gathered donations such as clothing, toys, seating arrangements, fans, water containers, and other essential amenities. Organizations like GOONJ in New Delhi and the Glenmark Foundation in Mumbai generously supported this initiative. Local citizens also showed enthusiasm by donating woollens, blankets, and various other items.
Following government directives, the organisation has been assigned 25 Anganwadis in Khalwa and Pandhana blocks to transform them into truly child-friendly spaces. It has conducted minor repairs, paintings, and equipped them with toys, games, and comfortable seating arrangements. The goal is to increase the time children spend at these centres, allowing them to access most of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) offered.

As a women-led organization, it has discovered the innate power within tribal women early on. Despite lacking formal education, their closeness to nature and resilience in facing challenges made them step forward when given the opportunity. They had a clear vision of their world within their village and neighbourhood, recognizing their responsibility to conserve, protect, and nurture it.
These women were the ones walking miles to fetch water, managing households, tending to children and cattle, and often working to support their families' needs. During challenging times, many resorted to seasonal distress migration. There was much that needed to be addressed. They voluntarily offered their labor (shram daan) to develop their neighbourhood’s land and water resources. Their efforts led to the amendment of hundreds of acres of land by constructing land bunds, conserving water through well digging, clearing debris from old wells, building sandbag and loose boulder check dams.

The Community-Based Malnutrition Management aims to facilitate the recovery of most malnourished children within their communities, thereby alleviating the strain on Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs). This initiative endeavours to aid children's recovery within their homes through non-institutional care. A mobile health unit visits villages, conducts follow-ups with malnourished children and pregnant mothers, and periodically organizes health camps in remote regions.

This initiative has gathered women together through various meetings, Self Help Groups, and the pursuit of small-scale economic ventures. To address the rising migration trend among women, assistance was provided to those previously migrating or inclined toward migration to establish businesses such as grocery shops, sales of cosmetics and artificial jewellery, vending pani puris, and retailing coconut and incense sticks at temples. Most of these ventures have been successful, significantly contributing to their livelihoods.
The latest program, "Karmyogini," specifically targets young tribal girls at risk of migration. This program stands out for its approach of teaching selected girls three skills concurrently - motorcycle repair, beauty salon skills, and electrical gadget repair. The strategy is designed to ensure a steady income flow from at least one or two of these skills every day. Equipped with basic training, tools, and materials, these girls have established their own shops.