INTRODUCTION TO CASE STUDIES
The “Micro-Enterprise for Nutrition in Rural Orissa” project was begun in June 2007 under
the leadership of Malnutrition Matters (Canada), with the first installation of 3 sets of
VitaGoat equipment in the Maneswar Block near Sambalpur in November 2007. There
had been a pilot project, sponsored solely by Malnutrition Matters, with a single VitaGoat
running previously from October 2006. The larger 20-VitaGoat project is funded primarily
by the World Bank Development Marketplace, with 75% of the equipment cost financed
by BISWA (NGO headquartered in Sambalpur, with presence in 14 states). There are 670
students attending Innovative (private) schools run by BISWA currently receiving a midday
meal that consists of soymilk enriched with micro-nutrients (Budhi-Shakti, manufactured
by Nicholas Piramal and formulated by the MicroNutrient Initiative – Delhi) and bread. Six
days a week they receive 200 ml of soymilk sweetened with 8g sugar, and fortified with
0.25g of the Budhi-Shakti formulation and two pieces of rusk (total calories about 190 and
8 g protein).
The Budhi-Shakti premix was recently formulated by the MicroNutrient Initiative, a
Canadian-based NGO with offices in Delhi. Dr. Saraswati Bulusu formulated the premix
specifically for primary school children, based on the existing formula for pre-schoolers
called Vita-Shakti. The premix is mixed into the soymilk at the school (to allow the soymilk
a chance to cool off below 60°); each child gets one dose of at least 0.25g per
day. It is measured using a special spoon which holds 5 doses, with the
number of doses being rounded up to the nearest 5. The premix consists of:
-
10 mg Iron
-
300 mcg Vitamin A
-
25 mg Vitamin C
-
1 mg Vitamin B12
-
100 mcg Folic Acid
When the government school midday-meal program begins, this calorie total will be
increased to 500 with the addition of 58g roasted groundnuts, and the protein total will
then be 12g. The typical midday meal served in rural Indian schools has less than half
the required 10g protein, and even at that the protein does not have a complete amino
acid profile – that is, it does not have the amino acid profile of complete proteins like
dairy milk, soymilk, eggs or meat. (Note: soymilk is typically sweetened due to the lack
of lactose, or milk sugar; without sweetener the taste is less palatable. Any soymilk
available in stores in tetra-paks has had sweetener added).
The soymilk-based midday meal has recently been approved at the CM-level (H. Naveen
Pattnaik) in Orissa. This approval will enable the expansion of the project to add 17
more VitaGoats and serve at least 15,000 students at government primary schools in
Maneswar Block, of Sambalpur District, by the middle of 2009.
The three case studies presented here involve three students, two SHG members and a
school. The time period covered is from December 2007 until July 2008. In those eight
months positive changes have been evident on various levels. The physical health of the
children receiving the soymilk-based midday meal has improved noticeably. The “MicroEnterprise for Nutrition in Rural Orissa” project includes a health study which
documents the height and weight changes and incidence of disease of the 670 students
who have been receiving the soymilk-based midday meal, as well as a control group of
over 700 students who are not receiving the soymilk; the health data is being collected
over a period of 20 months (July 2008 being the 8th month of this timeframe). The
health study data is collected every 2-3 months, and at the time of the data collection,
each child is given a single dose of Albendazole (anti-helminthic or de-worming
medicine). The information in the Case Studies is by nature anecdotal, but the statistical
proof of the larger study will bear out these anecdotal results, given the current trends.
No formal analysis of the results to date has been performed, the first analysis, including
a comparison with the control group, will be done after 12 months of data have been
collected (January 2009).
The attendance at these rural schools has increased due to the improved health of the
students and the desire of the students to receive this more interesting midday meal.
The academic capability of he students also seems to have improved, although this is
not being measured as part of the study. The family income of the SHG members
operating the VitaGoat has improved substantially, enabling a better quality of life for
those families. As the VitaGoats are sustained by the revenues from the midday meal
program, the project is sustainable on an ongoing basis, without the need for donations.
The parents of the children receiving the soymilk-based midday meal are also very
pleased that their children are healthier, happier and are learning more at school.
Please see the three Case Study reports below for the details.
CASE STUDY OF STUDENTS:
M
“Micro-Enterprise for Nutrition in Rural Orissa” Project
Project Leader : Malnutrition Matters , Canada
Project Manager: BISWA, Sambalpur, Orissa
Name of student: Subham Pujhari, age 10
Name of school: BISWA Innovative School, Antapali
 Subham belongs to a middle class family. When he was a small child of four years
old, he suffered from tuberculosis, which hindered his proper physical
development. Since his bout with tuberculosis, he has been prone to frequently
suffering different types of common diseases. So he was often absent from
school. He was looking very weak and thin. His parents were quite worried
about his health. After receiving the fortified soyamilk midday meal for some
months, now he is looking quite healthy. His height and weight are also
increasing quite satisfactorily. When the study began in December, Subham was
18.8 kgs and 124 cm tall. In July he was 21.5 kgs and 132 cm tall. He has been
coming to school regularly with very few absences. So his parents are grateful to
Malnutrition Matters, Canada and BISWA, Sambalpur.
Name of student: Kishori Mirdha, age 12
Name of school: BISWA Innovative School, Matikhai
 Kishori belongs to a poor family. This student was suffering from very frequent
colds and coughing. So she was often feeling very weak and not coming to school
regularly. After starting the soya milk, her cold and cough problem has virtually
disappeared. Now she is feeling much better than before and is coming to school
regularly. Her teacher reports that she is mentally more alert than before. She is
interested in studying and playing with her friends now. Her height and weight
also increased very well. When the study began, Kishori weighed 22.5 kg and was
130 cm tall. In July she was 27.7 kg and 136 cm tall. So her parents are giving
thanks to Malnutrition Matters, Canada and BISWA, Sambalpur.
Name of student: Saraswati Sumruti, age 10
Name of school: BISWA Innovative School, Bousenmura
 Saraswati belongs to a poor family. The student was suffering from malaria
regularly in her childhood. Due to financial problems her family was not able to
give her the nutritious food that every child needs for normal growth. As a result,
she was very weak, and her weight and height were not increasing properly. She
was absent from school various time because of coughs and fever. But when
Saraswati began taking the soya milk, she started looking healthier. Her height
and weight also increasing very well. At the beginning of the study Saraswati was
116 cm tall and 19.3 kgs – in July she was 122 cm and 21.2 kgs. Now her fever
and coughs are less so she is coming to school regularly and interested in
studying with her friends. So her parents are giving thanks to Malnutrition
Matters, Canada and BISWA, Sambalpur.
CASE STUDY OF IMPACT ON S.H.G. MEMBERS:
NAME OF THE S.H.G.MEMBER-Shanti Naik
Village: Balaranga, P.O.: Maneswar, Via: Dhanapali, Dist.: Sambalpur
S.H.G.Name: Biswa SHG Balaranga Grno, 2
Shanti Naik belongs to a poor family. 5 members are included in her family. All members of her
family depend upon the income of one person (Shanti’s husband), at 40 rupees per day, as a
daily labourer. Shanti used to be a daily labourer also. But due to a medical problem she is
unable to work hard. With the help of Malnutrition Matters and BISWA a soya milk project was
started in December-07 at Balaranga village. After several discussions with the SHG members
they selected 3 poor ladies to work in this project on regular basis. These 3 ladies share the job
of VitaGoat operator, until full production begins later in 2008. So two days a week, Shanti starts
work in the early morning and finishes by 10A.M. She gets 40 rupees for five hours of work per
day. After finishing the work for the soya milk project, she is able to do the work of a house wife.
Now she is very happy and earning money without any hard labour. Her family income is
increased by over 30% and will increase by 100% when full production starts soon (after
approval is received for the government school program).
Name of SHG member: Purnima Bhoi
Village-BOLBANGA PO-AMKUNI VIA-DHAMA DIST-SAMBALPUR
NAME OF THE SHG-BISWA SHG BOLBANGA-01
Purnima Bhoi is a tribal lady. There are three in her family. Her family depends on the forest for
their livelihood, because they are landless. So every day she and her husband go to the forest to
collect wood and sell it. The two of them can make an average of 20 to 30 Rupees per day. She
has a boy; he was unable to go to school because he was with his parents in the forest. With the
help of Malnutrition Matters and BISWA, a soya milk project was started in December 2007 in
Bolbanga village. She is now operating the VitaGoat there and doesn’t collect firewood
anymore. Purnima works five hours per day to make 30L of soymilk. She now earns 40 Rupees,
six days per week, so her family income has more than doubled. She is much happier now
because her son is going to school regularly since she is in the village.
IMPACT ON SCHOOLS:
NAME OF SCHOOL: BISWA INNOVATIVE SCHOOL, Bolbanga
AT: Bolbanga, P.O.: Dakara, P.S.: Dhama, DIST: Sambalpur
 This village is a backward and very poor village. There is no communication facility. It is
surrounded by dense forest. Due to lack of communication and local facilities people were
facing different types of diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, dengue fever, lung infections etc.
There is no health facility available in this village. The P.H.C. is situated 40 km from the
village. So the people face severe problems. Students were not getting nutritious food at
home. So their mental and physical growth was not developing properly. The students were
not coming to school regularly; due to health problems, attendance was about 50%. After
the soya milk meal was received by students, the students experienced fewer diseases
than before. Now the physical and mental growth of students is developing much better.
The students are coming to school regularly, with attendance about 95% due to their better
health and due to the fact that they enjoy the midday meal. They are getting nutritious food
(soya milk) free of cost. The parents are happy to send their students to school regularly and
better relations exist between the teacher and parents, and the teacher and the students.
Their parents are very happy now and give thanks to Malnutrition Matters and BISWA.