Comments on: India’s Losing Battle Against Malnutrition

By: Jamie Rhoads

Jamie Rhoads — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:18:51 +0000

I work for an organization that produces RUTF for local consumption in Haiti. It is a great product for treating malnutrition and has potential to support agricultural development. I have also seen that Cipla, a major Indian pharmaceutical/chemical manufacturer, is producing or planning on producing an RUTF product. If this is the case, distribution and financing will be the biggest challenge. I’d be very curious if anyone has more thoughts on this or more recent information.

By: Tobias Stahel

Tobias Stahel — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:42:04 +0000

My name is tobias stahel and i’m currently involved in a indian based ngo which aims to combat malnutrition.

i have just read the excellent article and the highly intresting discussion. i would really like to know what the status of the mentioned projects is. we do try to develop similar schemes in order to reach malnutrished children and others (pregnant women, hiv infected persons etc..)

many thanks for any comments…

tobias stahel

By: Op-Ed: Parle-G Biscuits or Daal and Rice? « ThinkChange India

Op-Ed: Parle-G Biscuits or Daal and Rice? « ThinkChange India — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:18:18 +0000

[...] response to dwindling school enrollment rates and rising rates of malnutrition in children, the Indian government devised the Mid-day Meal Scheme, which is supposed to provide daily, [...]

By: Anil_R

Anil_R — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:24:31 +0000

Santosh,

I would love to post an article on the potential of ready-to-use-therapeutic- food as a solution to malnutrition crisis in India, and linking its promise to social business. Stay tuned for more on this.

With regards to your question on distribution of the product to the market (preferable market is in rural India where malnutrition crisis seems to be predominant), my preliminary strategy was to get SHG’s involved in this process. However, I am a beginner in learning how SHG’s really work, and how practical these groups are as social entrepreneurs (I am based in the US and I need help from people in India who share the sentiments on this project).

By: Santhosh

Santhosh — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:18:21 +0000

Anil,

Sounds like a great idea and there is a dire need for such innovative ideas. My first though that comes to my mind when I think about your plan is ‘Distribution’.

Anyway, we would love to hear more about your idea. Why dont write a guest post for us?

By: anilrr

anilrr — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:24:54 +0000

RUTF formula called ‘plumpynut’ has demonstrated promising results in children in Malawi and Ethiopia who are suffering from malnutrition. (visit http://www.plumpynutinthefield.com for further information).

I support the suggestion of social business proposed at this posting. I have been working on a business plan to resolve the malnutrition crisis in India for some time (thanks to Prof. Yunus inspiring new book ‘Creative World Without Poverty’). The structure of this organization is strictly social business, where minimal profit is made, therefore, no dividend is provided to those who invest in this social business. Whatever minimal profit that is made will be reinvested into the business. This will be a self-sustaining and self-reliant business. In short, the business model will be similar to Grameen Danone which is not supported by governement or charity organization.

I have come up with a simple recipe for RUTF similar in formula as plumpynut, however, work on raising capital, collaboration with field workers, packaging, distribution, scalability, etc. is in the works.