Report

The CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, has launched a Nutrition Intervention Programme to address malnutrition among preschool children in Mysuru district. The programme distributes scientifically developed food kits to improve the nutritional health of these children.

BNPM Supports Programme Through CSR Partnership

Bank Note Paper Mill India Pvt. Ltd. (BNPM) is funding the initiative as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment. CFTRI is implementing the programme in partnership with the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services (DHFW) and the Directorate of Women and Child Development (DWCD). CFTRI identified 600 malnourished preschoolers in the region. Out of these, 500 children will receive monthly food kits over the next six months. CFTRI scientists designed these kits to be rich in protein, energy, and vital micronutrients such as Iron, Vitamin A, and Zinc. Health experts will monitor the programme’s effectiveness using detailed anthropometric assessments. The Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) will support this evaluation to track improvements in children’s nutritional status.

Officials Inaugurate Programme at CFTRI

CFTRI hosted the launch event on May 22, 2025, at its Mysuru campus. Dignitaries, including Thalikerappa (Managing Director, BNPM), Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh (Director, CFTRI), B. Basavaraj (Deputy Director, DWCD), and Dr. Mohammad Shiraz Ahmed (DHFW), attended the event. During the launch, officials symbolically distributed food kits to five children. Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh highlighted the success of CFTRI’s previous nutrition initiatives in Nanjangud and Purulia (West Bengal). She stressed the importance of collaboration between scientific institutions, government agencies, and CSR partners to ensure lasting impact. Dr. Ahmed and Mr. Basavaraj reinforced the need to focus on early childhood and maternal nutrition to break the cycle of malnutrition.

Source: Foodtech News