Bhubaneswar: A team from US-based Cornell University is testing new ideas to help bring behavioural changes among the rural population in some areas of the state to improve their nutritional status.
The Tata Cornell Institute for Nutrition and Agriculture’s (TCI) flagship programme Technical Assistance and Research for Indian Nutrition and Agriculture (TARINA) is gathering empirical evidence from 72 villages in Kalahandi and Kandhamal after providing technical assistance to redesign nutrition-sensitive agricultural programmes and policies.
“One of the critical components of our project is to bring about behavioural changes at the individual, household and community levels. A social landscape is thus created through strategic communication,” said Professor Prabhu Pingali, Director TCI, Cornell University.
The project has developed a special tool-kit through its partner CARE India for achieving better nutritional outcomes by empowering women.
The project has tried to make interactive tools to reach more people and make it interesting to participate. Methods like flip books and board games are being used to disseminate important messages through gender-based dialogues and to translate them into action.
The team believes that the tools and training are helping participants appreciate the significance of a diversified diet and better intra-household food distribution.
“The project’s communication strategy focuses on enhancing the community’s technical knowledge and awareness about better food systems and creating an enabling environment for better nutritional outcomes. It also increases demand and improves consumption of nutritious food at the household level,” said Shubh Swain, Programme Manager and Gender and Nutrition Specialist, TCI, Cornell University.
The team said that women from Kalahandi and Kandhamal participated in the programme and that it is having a positive impact on individuals and is making steady progress in creating demand for nutritious food.
