Over the past 2 years, we have some encouraging data showing that 101 (51%) children in grade III & IV improved their grades (see table at left).  While a child can slip from a less severe to more severe grade of malnutrition, this happened only in six cases.   Thus, overall nutritional status of children in these villages is improving.   

    For example in Konchada Village (see table below) of 12 children who were in grade 3 or 4 malnourishment at the beginning of 2007, 7 moved to grade 1 by mid 2007.  Ragi distribution for these 7 children was stopped.   In 2008, 6 children of Konchada village were receiving ragi through our program.  Of these 1 child showed progress, moving from grade 4 to grade 3.  The rest of the children in Konchada village were either normal or in grade 1 or 2.  Therefore their names do not appear in the ragi distribution charts below.

    To an extent, just weighing the child and talking with the parents helps them to take greater care, as the information is useful and interacting with volunteers is motivational.  Moreover, all parents are reporting that their children love the ragi powder.  So the success of giving ragi packets has also revived the habit of eating this important grain, which is cheaper and more nutritious than other grains or even cow's milk.  It is a locally available grain, and grows without irrigation, or chemical inputs. People used to process the grain at home until the green revolution displaced it in favor of rice, which required more water and chemical inputs, and is less nutritious, particularly when refined (white).  

    After we took serious interest in supplying ragi every month, parents begun to sprout and grind the grain in their own homes again, to supplement what we give.  In a small way, our program also helps the farmers market their produce locally to us, and consider cultivating more ragi.