Greetings,

 

*Garden of blessings*

 

Eleven years ago I started receiving blessings from many parents living in tribal areas of India. 

Initially the numbers were in hundreds but over the period of years the number has increased to thousands and today the figure has crossed 13500!!!

I am sure you are wondering what I am talking about and why these people are blessing me ?

I am talking about my flagship *Malnutrition* projects which I started on 13th November 2013. This was very small beginning with Rotary club in my city Kalyan near Mumbai. 

Initially we adopted only 50 SAM (severely acute malnourished) from a tribal area called Murbad . 

The local branch of government agency ICDS (integrated child development scheme) were very reluctant to handover the project as none of the  Rotary members were having any experience to take care of malnourished kids in the age group of 0-6. 

However with my determination and immense confidence I assured the authorities that we will not begin the project but will make it successful.

They insisted that their team will also join our team of Rotary members to guide us. We happily agreed and the project began. 

We had already made the plan ready for the kids so execution of the plan was quite a simple task. 

In the first six months itself we found remarkable improvement in the health of the kids and ICDS  authorities were impressed with our efforts and results too. 

Our model of nutritious food supplements soon became very popular and many NGOs started approaching us for the consultation. 

Third year onwards in 2016 the things became much easier. Our operation *Mission Malnutrition* became so popular that *Rotary International recommended my name to various NGOs to guide them on this critical issue of Malnutrition*

Since then we have been working relentlessly and we are getting the expected results.  

However the most satisfying moment for me was when the authorities on their own sent us testimonials saying that: 

*ever since we Rotary members commenced the malnutrition project not a single death has been reported*

Friends, the story does not end here. 

Later on in 2019 & 2024 my name was recommended for the prestigious civilian award in India *Padma Shri* for the work I am doing for malnourished children. 

If any one of you requires any guidance on malnutrition please do connect with me.

Let's all come together to make malnutrition history in the world 
Should you require any more information please do not hesitate to contact us. 
Best regards,

Yours in Rotary service.
Rtn Makarand Pundalik
President