Stories of impact: Phulwaris of Anuppur

Story of Koushlya as a Phulwari Worker

Today everyone recognizes Kaushalya in the village as a ‘Phulwari Didi’. Kaushalya is 37 years old woman from Payari village, an active, talkative woman. Due to her good communication skills, she makes quick connections with people. In 2018 when it was decided to establish Phulwari in Payari village. During the community meeting with the consent of the village people, Kaushalya was given the responsibility of running Phulwari. Phulwari started and around 10 to 12 children started attending Phulwari. When the children started crying, Kaushalya started pacifying them by singing songs with the children. Looking at her work people of the village are also happy seeing the way she handles the children. When any child suffers from any health issue and stops coming to Phulwari, Kaushalya visits the home on the same day to find out the problem and informs the ASHA worker of the village, Phulwari supervisor and calls ANM if needed. When parents do not send their children to the Phulwari, then Kaushyala visits the home and informs about the importance of the Phulwari so that the child comes to the Phulwari and the child gets adequate nutrition. All the parents send their children to the Phulwari every day, as well as every month bring on time for the weight and height.

In the initial days of Payari Phulwari, the nutritional status of children was not so promising. In 2018, out of 19 children enrolled, 2 children were severely underweight, 7 were moderately underweight. Due to efforts of Kaushalya didi the situation changed gradually. Now, out of 12 children, the nutrition status of 10 children is in the normal category, 2 children are in the moderately underweight category and not a single child is severely underweight. This was possible because of the trust of the community in Kausalya didi and her hard work.

Story of Roshan

         Roshan (name changed) is 3 years old, he belongs to Bullupani village, Pushprajgarh block of Anuppur district. When he was born,  his mother could not breastfeed him for a week due to her poor health. Even after 8 months of the child’s age, the child did not enroll in Phulwari, then Phulwari didi and supervisor went to the child’s home and explained the usefulness of Phulwari for the child. At the behest of Phulwari didi, the parents started sending Roshan to Phulwari. At that time his weight was 5.9 kg and height was 63.1 cm, he was severely underweight.

To increase the nutritional status of Roshan, every week home visits were done by the supervisor, and parents were explained about their child’s nutritional status, food requirements, sanitation, and hygiene. Seeing the increasing weight of the Roshan, the parents started sending him regularly to the Phulwari and they were always involved in the monthly parents’ meeting. By coming to the Phulwari every day, the nutritional status of the Roshan had improved within 3 months. At the age of 3 years, Roshan has achieved a normal weight for his age.  The weight of Roshan in the month of October  2021 is 11.7 kg and his height is 86.9, also mental, motor, language, emotional development happened at a satisfactory level. Roshan himself insists on going to Phulwari every day. Whenever the supervisor went to the Phulwari, Roshan is the one who is actively participating in the daily games and activities. His parents are also happy because their child’s health status improved significantly and they can go to work without worrying for their child.