Riyanshi Chauhan’s laughter echoed through the air. She goes to school, she is dancing, playing sports like other children of her age group do. Riyanshi, a 07 year old girl residing in village Budasa, District Dewas of Madhya Pradesh is now blessed with a life a child deserves. When Riyanshi was 2-3 years old her parents noticed her growth was not normal. She appeared smaller and weaker than most children of her age. Her skin was pale and her energy levels were low. But due to lack of awareness her parents didn’t address the issue seriously and her situation remained same in successive years.

The journey of Riyanshi’s transformation started from April 2023 when Riyanshi’s mother Dhapur Chauhan reached the Anganwadi Center of Village Budasa. After a primary checkup Anganwadi worker informed her that Riyanshi was under weight. Good Farming-Good Food-Good Health team who works closely with Anganwadi Center took the responsibility of transforming her life. “In Riyanshi’s case, first we analysed the possible causes of her malnourishment, we found that there was not a substantial gap between the birth of Riyanshi and her sister, thus she didn’t receive breastmilk and a proper care during the initial years of life,” says Sangeeta Kushwah, ANM.

Good Farming-Good Food-Good Health team asked her mother to regularly attend the meetings they organize in the village. Team took a serious cognizant to this case and suggested Riyanshi’s mother to include Soy food in her diet with inclusion of Moringa, seasonal fruits and vegetable in daily diet. “We motivated Dhapur to attend the culinary activities we organize at village level, there she got to know about several Soy recipes. We also prepared a diet chart for Riyanshi,” says Lipy Bhargava Nutrition Expert. Nutri Sakhi Sangeeta Atteda says- “I made a regular visit to Riyanshi’s family and keep them informed about seasonal fruits and vegetables. I even connected Riyanshi’s mother with market she buys soy chunks from.” “We have around 1 acre of land and we grow soybean also, but were not aware of nutrition benefits of Soybean.

Now we keep a portion of soybean for household use. After attending the training given by Nutri Sakhi, I started adding 01 kg soy flour in 10 kg wheat flour. I have also learnt some soy recipes through culinary trainings. I started making soy recipes like soy chunks curry and soy chunks rice, to my surprise Riyanshi and her sisters like the taste of soy food.”– Dhapur Chauhan, Riyanshi Mother.

As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Riyanshi's health began to improve. Three months ago (in September 2023) Riyanshi weight was 11 kg, in a span of 03 months in November 2023 she weighed 15 kg. Also, her hemoglobin level increased from 8 to 10 g/dl. Her cheeks regained their rosy hue, and her eyes sparkled with newfound energy. With a healthy body and mind, Riyanshi's confidence soared, and she excelled in her studies like never before.

Mr. Vijay Patidar, Riyanshi’s School Principal, Maa Sharda Balvidya Mandir says that- There has been a great change in Riyanshi’s academic performance. Earlier, she was absent 5-7 days in a month, now she is regular and performing well both in studies and extra curriculum activities.” Mr. Patidar thanked the Good Farming- Good Food team and urged to conduct nutrition activities in his school also. The Anganwadi center also played a crucial role in Riyanshi's transformation.

They provided her with regular health check-ups and nutritious meals, ensuring that she received the essential nutrients needed for her growth and development. Riyanshi's journey from malnourished to healthy became an inspiration for the entire village. Families started adopting the practices promoted by the Good Farming-Good Food team and Anganwadi center, leading to a significant reduction in malnutrition among children.