In Damas village, North Garo Hills District, Meghalaya, what began as a regular day quickly transformed into a milestone for community health. Drawing on the deep-rooted Garo traditions of collective living and mutual care, the people of North Garo Hills came together to mark a major step in community-driven health efforts with the launch of the District Nutrition Leadership Programme (DNLP) on 12th July 2025, alongside the celebration of Red Food Day at the Damas Community Hall.
This event follows one of the key action points identified during the DNLP workshop held in Shillong, where community-led nutrition interventions were prioritized.
As part of the launch, mothers prepared iron-rich dishes, children demonstrated proper handwashing, and frontline workers joined hands with local leaders to celebrate Red Food Day a weekly, community-led initiative aimed at combating iron deficiency and malnutrition.Held at the community hall, the launch brought together 18 Village Organisations (VOs), Community Gender Health Activists (CGHAs), and representatives from key departments including Health, ICDS, MSRLS, Horticulture, Food Safety, and the District Administration.
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his event also marked the formal rollout of the DNLP, which is supported by the State Capability Enhancement Project (SCEP). Through its flagship Human Development Leadership Programme (HDLP), SCEP is focused on building frontline leadership and convergence to address critical issues such as malnutrition, school attendance, and maternal health.
A Community-Led Model for Nutrition
Speaking at the event, the District Mission Manager (MSRLS) highlighted that Red Food Day is more than a symbolic initiative—it is a locally owned movement to fight iron deficiency and maternal anemia, driven by mothers and community leaders acting as nutrition champions.
The Block Development Officer (Resubelpara) applauded the efforts of the Damas Cluster Level Federation (CLF)for leading by example, especially by promoting small yet impactful practices like pairing Vitamin C with iron-rich meals and encouraging boiled water consumption to reduce waterborne diseases.
As part of an engaging demonstration under the Eat Right India campaign, the District Food Safety Officer emphasized the dangers of additives like MSG, the overuse of sugar and salt, and the unsafe use of newspapers for serving food. Instead, he promoted safe, traditional alternatives like karatchi and improved food hygiene.
Iron, Hygiene, and Home Gardens: Local Solutions in Action
The District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO) spoke on the link between adolescent nutrition and academic performance. He highlighted the importance of the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme and led a symbolic distribution of Iron-Folic Acid tablets to Anganwadi children, urging village leaders and teachers to take an active role in health promotion.
Medical staff from Damas PHC demonstrated proper hand hygiene and shared simple home remedies for diarrhea. Children from three Anganwadi Centres joyfully participated in the WASH demo before sitting down for a nutritious meal. The Horticulture Department educated community members on setting up Nutri-Gardens in their backyards and committed to providing continued technical support. The day ended with a meal prepared and served by VO members using locally sourced iron-rich ingredients, cooked over firewood voluntarily donated by community members—an act symbolizing true community ownership.
From One Village to a District-Wide Movement
What made the event exceptional was not just the banners or the formal addresses—it was the powerful sense of ownership on display. Mothers, youth, frontline workers, and community heads actively participated, reflecting HDLP’s core principle: enabling leadership at every level of the system.
With Damas showing the way, every village in North Garo Hills is now expected to observe Red Food Day weekly. Backed by interdepartmental support under HDLP, this initiative is set to become a cornerstone of the district’s strategy to improve community nutrition and tackle anemia.