Special Article: From Empowered Mindset to Self-Reliance — Women of Surajpur Playing a Key Role in Building Nutrition

Surajpur, January 2026 : The foundation of economic empowerment rests on a strong and empowered mindset. Firm determination, self-confidence and sustained effort guide individuals toward success. Women associated with self-help groups in Surajpur district have translated this belief into action, presenting a powerful example of self-reliance. These women are not only empowering themselves but are also playing a crucial role in the mission to provide nutrition to women and children across the district.

With the objective of supplying quality nutrition to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children through Anganwadi centres, a Ready-to-Eat (RTE) nutrition food manufacturing unit has been launched in the district. These units produce nutritious and tasty savoury porridge and sweet fortified food, enriched with essential micronutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, cobalamin, iron, calcium and zinc.

The district administration has established a total of seven nutrition food manufacturing units. At present, three units are being successfully operated in the Bhaiyathan, Pratappur and Surajpur development blocks. In these three units, 32 women are directly engaged in the production of nutrition food. The prepared nutrition food is distributed free of cost to pregnant women and children through Anganwadi centres. In this way, women from self-help groups are making an indirect yet extremely significant contribution to strengthening maternal and child health.

An important aspect of this initiative is that, along with the production of nutrition food, the responsibility of its distribution has also been entrusted to women’s self-help groups.

In Bhaiyathan block, 15 self-help groups, in Surajpur block 15 self-help groups, and in Pratappur block 13 self-help groups are actively involved in the distribution process.

Through these groups, a total of 430 women are actively engaged in delivering nutrition food to Anganwadi centres across the district.

This scheme has created employment opportunities for women at the local level. Mentally empowered, these women are now combining household responsibilities with livelihood activities, moving steadily toward economic self-reliance. This initiative will not only help improve nutritional levels in the district but also stands as an inspiring example of women’s empowerment and inclusive development.