Malnutrition is a silent crisis affecting millions of rural families. Children grow up stunted, women face anemia, and communities suffer from low productivity and health risks. Dhara Sansthan's Nutrition Program takes a holistic approach — from awareness and dietary education to access and supplementation.

In partnership with Anganwadi centers and government health workers, we track growth in children under 5 and identify undernourished individuals. Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls receive iron and folic acid supplements, protein-rich food, and regular health checkups.

Kitchen gardens or “poshan bagichas” are promoted in schools and homes to improve dietary diversity. Families are taught to grow spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and other local vegetables using organic methods. These small gardens have big impact — boosting immunity and food availability.

Through “Poshan Pathshala” (Nutrition Schools), we teach low-cost, high-nutrition recipes using local ingredients like millets, pulses, and seasonal vegetables. Women and girls learn not only what to cook but why each food group is important.

In rural India, health and hygiene are not just essential services — they are often a matter of survival. Lack of access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and health awareness continues to impact the lives of millions. Dhara Sansthan, through its grassroots efforts, is transforming how health and hygiene are perceived and practiced in rural communities across Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The challenges are many. In remote villages, basic hygiene practices like handwashing with soap, safe menstrual hygiene, and the use of toilets are still not widespread. Diseases like diarrhea, respiratory infections, and skin ailments are common due to poor hygiene. Many of these can be prevented with simple but consistent habits — and that’s where Dhara Sansthan’s work begins.

Our health programs focus on creating awareness, changing behaviors, and strengthening local health systems. Community workshops, street plays, and school programs are conducted regularly to promote basic hygiene practices such as handwashing before meals, proper waste disposal, and maintaining personal cleanliness. We also work with mothers and schoolteachers to ensure children understand and adopt healthy routines.

A key part of our initiative is promoting menstrual hygiene. In many villages, menstruation is still taboo, and girls often drop out of school due to lack of access to sanitary products or clean toilets. Through our initiative "Swasth Mahila, Swasth Parivar," we conduct menstrual hygiene management (MHM) sessions and distribute reusable sanitary napkins. These efforts not only improve health outcomes but also boost self-confidence and dignity among adolescent girls and women.

Access to healthcare is another major hurdle in remote areas. To bridge this gap, Dhara Sansthan organizes mobile health camps that provide essential health services like anemia screening, eye check-ups, and general health consultations. These camps are especially crucial for women, elderly people, and children who otherwise do not have access to a doctor. We also coordinate with local Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to ensure follow-up and referrals when needed.

The COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of urgency. Dhara Sansthan became a trusted source of information, raising awareness about COVID safety, distributing hygiene kits with masks and sanitizers, and helping communities understand the importance of vaccination. Our volunteers played a key role in mobilizing people and removing fear and misinformation surrounding vaccines.

Sanitation infrastructure is another pillar of our work. In collaboration with local governments, we help build household toilets and promote their consistent usage to eliminate open defecation. Village cleanliness drives, water tank clean-ups, and waste management awareness campaigns further reinforce the message of hygiene and dignity.

At Dhara Sansthan, we view health not merely as the absence of disease, but as a state of complete well-being. Our holistic and community-based approach has helped thousands of families live healthier, safer lives. The road to better health is not built overnight — it takes commitment, collaboration, and compassion. But step by step, with every clean hand, every healthy child, and every informed family, we are creating healthier villages and a stronger future.