Korea (Koriya), Chhattisgarh:
In the remote, forested and largely tribal district of Korea in northern Chhattisgarh, a quiet but powerful transformation has taken place—led not by expensive technology or large infrastructure projects, but by a humble ladoo. At the heart of this innovation is IAS officer Chandan Sanjay Tripathi, whose people-centric approach to governance turned a traditional sweet into a life-saving nutrition strategy for pregnant women and newborns.
Korea district has long struggled with challenges such as malnutrition, anemia among women, low birth weight babies, and limited access to balanced diets—particularly in tribal and rural areas. Despite the presence of government schemes, gaps remained in last-mile delivery, awareness, and acceptance of supplementary nutrition. Recognizing this, District Collector Chandan Sanjay Tripathi focused on a solution that was local, affordable, culturally acceptable, and sustainable.
The result was the Rural Nutrition Programme, centered around the distribution of specially prepared nutrient-rich ladoos. These ladoos were designed to meet the dietary needs of pregnant and lactating women, containing ingredients such as millets, groundnuts, jaggery, sesame seeds, pulses, and other locally available, iron- and protein-rich components. Unlike packaged supplements, these ladoos were easy to consume, tasty, and familiar to the community—ensuring regular intake.
A key pillar of the programme was the involvement of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Local women’s SHGs were trained to prepare the ladoos hygienically and scientifically, following nutrition guidelines provided by health and ICDS officials. This not only ensured quality and freshness, but also generated livelihood opportunities for rural women, strengthening the local economy.
The programme was implemented in close coordination with Anganwadi centers, health workers, and ASHAs, who monitored pregnant women, ensured regular distribution, and tracked health indicators. Regular counseling sessions were also organized to educate families about maternal nutrition, anemia prevention, and child health.
The impact soon became visible. Health workers reported improved hemoglobin levels among pregnant women, better weight gain during pregnancy, and a noticeable reduction in cases of low birth weight babies. Equally important was the rise in community participation and trust in the public health system. Women no longer viewed nutrition as a “medical obligation” but as a shared community responsibility.
Speaking about the initiative, officials noted that the success lay in its simplicity and ownership. “When solutions emerge from within the community and align with local food habits, they are more likely to succeed,” the district administration emphasized.
Today, the “nutrition ladoo” of Korea district is being cited as a model of innovative governance, demonstrating how administrative vision, community participation, and traditional wisdom can come together to address complex social challenges. What began as a small experiment has now inspired discussions on replication in other tribal and rural regions of Chhattisgarh.
In Korea district, one ladoo has done more than nourish bodies—it has reshaped the future of an entire generation, proving that meaningful change often starts with the simplest of ideas.
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