In order to combat malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, the Government of India has launched major flagship initiatives such as Poshan Abhiyaan, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). A central pillar of this effort is the food fortification of staple commodities—including rice, wheat flour, salt, and edible oil—with essential micronutrients like iodine, iron, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin B12. While this strategy has driven significant progress, its long-term success and ultimate impact on public health rely heavily on sustained community awareness, effective monitoring mechanisms, and active stakeholder participation.
Despite these nationwide efforts, iron deficiency and anaemia continue to pose major public health challenges among India’s vulnerable populations. Data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019–21) highlights that in the state of Madhya Pradesh anaemia prevalence is 72.7% among children and 54.7% among women of reproductive age (15–49 years).
In direct response to this challenge, the Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP) has scaled up food fortification initiatives, specifically focusing on the rollout of Double Fortified Salt (DFS). Initially, GoMP introduced DFS through the Public Distribution System (PDS) across 89 tribal blocks in 20 tribal districts at a highly subsidized rate of INR 1 per kg, receiving technical support from Nutrition International (NI) and its implementing partner, the Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (MPVHA). Building on this foundation, the programme was expanded from September 2021 onward across all 52 districts of Madhya Pradesh, streamlining distribution through Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), District Hospitals (DHs), and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs).
Double Fortified Salt and Fortified Rice Program in Madhya Pradesh
MPVHA has been extending close technical support for the roll-out of the Double Fortified Salt Program across the state from April 2022 onward, During the reporting year (April 2025 to March 2026), due to budgetary constraints following the transition from the National Health Mission to the Department of Food, the program was scaled down from June 2025 and is now limited to the 89 tribal blocks across 20 districts under PDS, while continuing across all 55 districts under the ICDS framework. Despite these challenges, the NI-IP team (MPVHA) carried out extensive field-level activities throughout the reporting period, surpassing targets in most domains and achieving several landmark institutional milestones.
MPVHA has been involved in activities like orientation of Warehouse incharge, SHG orientation,VHSND sessions,Balsabha, Household visits,District level workshops,observation of National Consumer Day, World Consumer Rights Day, ASHA,ANM Orientation, support to State Technical Support Unit etc.
