According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index, India continues to grapple with one of the highest child malnutrition rates, with 18.7% of children experiencing wasting and 35.5% suffering from stunted growth, leading to long-term health complications.
Amidst the ongoing challenges of malnutrition in India, several corporations have undertaken proactive measures through CSR-funded initiatives to address this critical issue. These projects not only aim to alleviate immediate nutritional deficiencies but also strive to establish sustainable practices for long-term impact. In this overview, we highlight five impactful projects that are actively driving change and fostering a healthier future for communities across India.
From empowering students through nutrition education to providing nutritious meals to underprivileged children, these initiatives exemplify corporate commitment to addressing malnutrition comprehensively. Let’s delve into these projects and explore their significant contributions to building a healthier, more resilient India.
Amway’s Power of 5 Programme
With a commitment to combat childhood malnutrition, Amway India runs the ‘Power of 5’ programme. The programme aims to build healthy communities, with a focus on children, by imparting essential knowledge on nutrition and wellbeing and nutrition intervention. An impact report released by Amway on World Health Day highlighted significant progress in Mumbai and Kolkata, benefiting close to 1,75,000 individuals, including mothers, caregivers, and 18000+ children. Notably, as part of a structured nutrition and education intervention, 40% of children with iron deficiency have shifted to the normal category, indicating substantial improvement, the report stated.
The Power of 5 programme, with its holistic approach combining nutrition education, targeted supplementation, and behavioural change reinforcement, has significantly improved childhood nutrition and fostered healthier habits among underserved communities. By addressing both immediate nutritional needs and long-term behavioural changes—such as better dietary choices, regular meal consumption, and enhanced hygiene practices—the initiative is creating a sustainable model for community health improvement.
CSR of PepsiCo India – Pink Smile initiative
PepsiCo India, in partnership with Smile Foundation, announced the launch of ‘Pink Smile’, a project aimed at combating anaemia and malnutrition in January 2025. Focused on enhancing healthcare accessibility and availability, the initiative in its early stage has impacted 4,200 beneficiaries from underserved communities including women, adolescents and children.
The programme outreach is conducted in collaboration with frontline workers and health experts. It will also contribute to the local administration’s efforts towards Anaemia Mukt Bharat and reducing malnutrition. The ‘Pink Smile’ program aims to impact over 40,000 individuals across 10 villages in Chhata Teshil of Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh.
In line with the government’s mission to improve maternal and child health, the ‘Pink Smile’ project seeks to address critical gaps in healthcare delivery, primarily through Mobile Medical Units (MMU) providing curative, preventive, and promotive services. Programme interventions will include anemia screening, specialized teleconsultation, and nutrition distribution, set to benefit vulnerable populations—particularly women, adolescents, and children by enhancing their health-seeking behaviour and providing timely interventions for anemia and malnutrition.
CSR of Volvo Group to ensure Nutrition for Government School children
Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust partnered with Volvo Group India in November, 2024 to provide Morning Nutrition to government school children in Hoskote Taluk, Bengaluru Rural district. This initiative will benefit nearly 17,000 students across 272 government schools.
Under the programme, SaiSure Millet (Ragi) Multi-Nutrient Health Mix is served alongside government-sponsored milk through the Ksheera Bhagya scheme. SaiSure Millet (Ragi) Multi-Nutrient Health Mix is a specially formulated supplement designed to support the overall health and well-being of children, addressing malnutrition and fostering a healthier future generation.
CSR of PepsiCo – Bowl of Growth Program to combat Child Malnutrition
Akshaya Chaitanya announced the launch of the “Bowl of Growth Program” in October 2024. This programme is designed to nourish and support the health of 1,000 children from balwadis (pre-schools) and 3000 from primary schools across Mumbai for a period of 6 months. The mission focuses on three key pillars which are Nutrition, Awareness, and Education to combat child malnutrition and foster healthier urban communities in Mumbai.
The programme titled “Fortified Multigrain & Millet-Based Supplementation to Address Malnutrition in 3- 14year-Old Children from Urban Slums Communities of Mumbai” is supported by the PepsiCo Foundation under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This intervention, designed based on the evidence, will be implemented in selected Balwadis and municipal schools of Mumbai.
Follow-up evaluation will be conducted at three months for the 3-5-year-old Balwadi children to assess growth and health parameters, ensuring they do not progress to more severe forms of malnutrition. For the 6-14-year-old school children, anthropometric and anemia screenings will be conducted using non-invasive AI tools at the start and again at the 2-month and 4-month post-intervention, Akshaya Chaitanya said in a statement.
Mondelez India’s Eat Right School Initiative
Mondelez India’s Eat Right School Initiative is a comprehensive program aimed at empowering communities through comprehensive nutrition education initiatives across 200 schools in India. The initiative has had a profound impact on 100,000 beneficiaries, including 46,000 students, 13,500 educators, and countless parents across the 200 schools nationwide. The program encompasses tailored curriculum development, awareness events, and infrastructure enhancement.
Mondelez India’s Eat Right Initiative has partnered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) Eat Right School Program to certify schools and implement tailored curriculum and training programs. They have conducted 400 engagements, including school health camps, to foster holistic healthy lifestyles within schools and communities. The initiative has also established Sehat clubs and undertaken sensitization of school management committees to promote healthy eating practices and wellness initiatives.
Nissan Motor India & Akshaya Patra Foundation Partnership
Addressing the food and nutrition needs of underprivileged children in New Delhi, Nissan Motor India collaborated with the Akshaya Patra Foundation. This partnership has had a significant impact, providing 50 lakh nutritious meals to over 49,000 students, enhancing their academic performance and overall well-being.
The initiative involves extensive meal distribution across 300 schools, complemented by community engagement efforts to promote sustainable nutrition practices and long-term health benefits for the children and their families.
LG India’s Life’s Good Nutrition Program
LG India partnered with the Akshaya Patra Foundation and Annapoorna Trust to combat childhood malnutrition comprehensively in 808 government schools across India. The program has benefited over 59,202 children by providing them with nutritious meals, emphasizing holistic growth and cognitive development.
The initiative involves collaboration with the Midday Meal and Morning Nutrition programs, ensuring a well-rounded approach to addressing nutritional deficiencies and fostering a healthier future generation of children.
Tata Motors’ Arogya Health Initiative
Tata Motors’ flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, Arogya, focuses on combating malnutrition among children aged 0 to 6 years, with a comprehensive approach to healthcare. The initiative has had a significant impact, providing supplementary diets, healthcare services, and behavioral change interventions to benefit 5,31,137 individuals and their communities.
The program involves extensive awareness campaigns, antenatal/postnatal services, and curative healthcare interventions aimed at addressing nutritional deficiencies and improving overall health outcomes for children and their families.
Greenpanel Industries & Akshaya Patra Foundation Collaboration
Greenpanel Industries partnered with the Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide nutritious mid-day meals to government school children in Nellore and Kuppam regions of India. The initiative has served over 3.19 lakh meals to more than 2,016 children, aiming to enhance their overall well-being and educational outcomes.
The collaboration involves long-term feeding programs, coupled with community engagement efforts, ensuring sustained impact on children’s health and quality of life, laying the foundation for a brighter future for these underprivileged students.
