Gram Varta aims to integrate maternal, child, and family nutrition and health into the SHG meeting framework. It engages various Self Help Groups (SHGs), managed by the block level Federation office, through a systematic process of community mobilization to overcome the problems of malnutrition within their families and in the communities around them. Gram Varta literally translates to “village di
alogue”, which in a large sense is what the intervention aims to do. It empowers self-help groups with the knowledge and skills to disseminate maternal and child nutrition information in their families and their communities. As it recruits local women from the community as facilitators, it works to find local solutions to the issues of malnutrition. Additionally, Gram Varta aims to improve access to and use of services by the community. It also aims to strengthen the community level institution. Gram Varta takes place every fortnight, in a 20 meeting cycle, using various participatory learning and action (PLA) techniques such as community needs assessments, community action plan , case studies, and activities. It is open to SHG and non-SHG members, men and women, adolescents, and the community at large, including frontline workers, to encourage collaborative learning and action.
