Munni Bai is physically challenged and has a limp in one of her legs. But that doesn't stop her from traversing the dusty by-lanes of a remote village in Shivpuri, one of the most backward districts of the country. She lives and works in village Atara of Shivpuri district which is around 150 km away from the hustle and bustle of the State capital.
Atara is no different from lakhs of other villages in the country there is 14 to 16 hour power cut, few private toilets, absence of pucca houses, no regular water supply to homes. However, there is one thing which makes this village different from many others, that is majority of children are healthy and are not malnourished in this village even though the most of the households are very apparently living below the poverty line.
Munni is the force behind increased awareness on breastfeeding in her village. She, in her casual but quite effective style, communicates with not only the women but also the men of the village and ensures that every newborn in this village is fed exclusively on mother's milk for the first six months and the child continues to be breastfed for at least two years after their birth.
"In addition to immunization, it is necessary to emphasise the importance of optimal breastfeeding practices to curb malnutrition," says Munni Bai, adding that this is one of the most effective ways to ensure better health for a child in early years.
"My son is two-and-a-half months old and I ensure that he is being raised for the first six months only on mother's milk. I was told about this by Munni Bai and the doctor in the hospital," says Sadhana, a resident of Atara village.
According to Census of India 2011, Shivpuri has a challenging indicators with 60 per cent children are malnourished, sex ratio of 877 (877 women for every 1000 men), an indicator of distinct gender bias. The child sex ratio in the district is 889. The overall literacy rate for Shivpuri is 63.7 per cent while the female literacy rate stands at 49.5 per cent.
Munni Bai, however, continues to work tirelessly hoping that if her village can be changed many other villages too can change.
Trained by UNICEF, to communicate effectively on such crucial issues, Munni Bai says, "From August 1 to 7, we are observing World Breastfeeding Week in a big way in this village. This time we have roped in men also. After all, mothers do need support of men in the family to ensure that they are able to take care of their children."
About 5 years ago, Munni Bai was identified as a village volunteer as part of joint intervention of UNICEF with district administration and NGOs. Later, she made her way to become anganwadi worker. She works very closely with the Panchayat and other agents trained under the UNICEF assisted projects.
"To begin with we have convinced men in the village that the women should not be working in fields for first two years after the birth of the child. It helps to ensure that the child is breastfed at the right time and does not have to remain hungry just because the mother is busy working in the field," she added.
Atara is no different from lakhs of other villages in the country there is 14 to 16 hour power cut, few private toilets, absence of pucca houses, no regular water supply to homes. However, there is one thing which makes this village different from many others, that is majority of children are healthy and are not malnourished in this village even though the most of the households are very apparently living below the poverty line.
Munni is the force behind increased awareness on breastfeeding in her village. She, in her casual but quite effective style, communicates with not only the women but also the men of the village and ensures that every newborn in this village is fed exclusively on mother's milk for the first six months and the child continues to be breastfed for at least two years after their birth.
"In addition to immunization, it is necessary to emphasise the importance of optimal breastfeeding practices to curb malnutrition," says Munni Bai, adding that this is one of the most effective ways to ensure better health for a child in early years.
"My son is two-and-a-half months old and I ensure that he is being raised for the first six months only on mother's milk. I was told about this by Munni Bai and the doctor in the hospital," says Sadhana, a resident of Atara village.
According to Census of India 2011, Shivpuri has a challenging indicators with 60 per cent children are malnourished, sex ratio of 877 (877 women for every 1000 men), an indicator of distinct gender bias. The child sex ratio in the district is 889. The overall literacy rate for Shivpuri is 63.7 per cent while the female literacy rate stands at 49.5 per cent.
Munni Bai, however, continues to work tirelessly hoping that if her village can be changed many other villages too can change.
Trained by UNICEF, to communicate effectively on such crucial issues, Munni Bai says, "From August 1 to 7, we are observing World Breastfeeding Week in a big way in this village. This time we have roped in men also. After all, mothers do need support of men in the family to ensure that they are able to take care of their children."
About 5 years ago, Munni Bai was identified as a village volunteer as part of joint intervention of UNICEF with district administration and NGOs. Later, she made her way to become anganwadi worker. She works very closely with the Panchayat and other agents trained under the UNICEF assisted projects.
"To begin with we have convinced men in the village that the women should not be working in fields for first two years after the birth of the child. It helps to ensure that the child is breastfed at the right time and does not have to remain hungry just because the mother is busy working in the field," she added.
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