About the Organization:
Tara Mobile Creches, Pune provides a second home to children of migrant labourers at construction sites with a safe nurturing environment and ensuring opportunities for the right growth and development through its planned interventions.

Issue:
Health and appropriate nutrition is the significant aspect of life irrespective of age, gender, culture, geography, seasonality, and ideologies. Having good health – physical, mental, and social is crucial to living life productively and fruitfully. While working with children, families and individuals at construction sites, it is observed that the migrants from various states come with poor socio-economic backgrounds with the sheer aim of earning money. The major health-related challenges observed among these migrant groups in urban areas are as follows. • Food insecurity - Lack of sumptuous and quality square meals, undernutrition especially among women and children, low access to government food security scheme (Public distribution system) due to non-availability of local identity cards/ration cards and nature of migration. • Malnourishment is commonly observed when the children approach daycare centers. Parents attend the work at the construction site therefore negligence towards feeding the child. Children’s health and nutritional needs often get neglected. • Inappropriate storing, cooking methods and food-consuming habits • Poor health care-seeking behaviors, especially for children, pregnant and lactating mothers. • Poor awareness about local healthcare facilities - Most of the sites are located far away posing challenges in accessible and affordable healthcare services • Psychological stress leading to irritability, conflicts, domestic violence • Unhealthy sexual practices • Alcohol addiction and substance abuse • Risk of HIV / AIDS, high-risk sexual behavior Malnourishment during children’s developing age has a negative impact on life forever owing to his / her overall capacities. Hence preventing malnourishment becomes very crucial.

Action:
Recognizing the significance, TMCP has adopted the approach of promotion, prevention and curative services to address the concerns. Nutritional aid includes freshly prepared meals, breakfast and evening snacks which are well-planned based on the nutritional needs of children as per their age. TMCP’s nutritionist who designs menus to address nutritional needs ensures the palatability and acceptability of menus. Every daycare center has a fully equipped kitchen where freshly cooked meals are prepared and served to children. The staff at the daycare center cooks the meals in rotation as per the weekly schedule. In addition, she gives guidance on hygiene maintenance, cooking, and quantity serving. Regular informal feedback is taken from children and mothers and accordingly, modifications are done to the menu. In addition, Deworming, Vit A, WASH facilities are ensured and along with hygiene practices. Children with special needs, malnourished children pregnant and lactating mothers, receive nutritional aid on a priority basis. The caregivers are trained in appropriate cooking practices by following hygiene practices. They serve the children with enthusiasm and ensure children enjoy the food flavors, aroma, texture, and variety of the food. Children’s weight for age is monitored every month. Moderately malnourished and severely malnourished children are monitored closely and treated appropriately. Severely malnourished children with medical ailments are referred to the Nutrition rehabilitation center Following items are served at three different times of the day. 1. Breakfast: Glass of Milk + 1 nutritious laddu (Milk is prepared from Milk powder based on no. of children present on the day) 2. Meals: Rice-based preparation enhanced with dals, legumes, vegetables, oil, spices, and condiments 3. Post afternoon: A dry snack / poha/ upama/ chikki/ fruits/ bhel / chivda/ chakali etc. 4. Additional meals for malnourished children: High-calorie high protein dishes

Impact :
Every year more than 1000 children receive nutrition aid. At TMCP, a pool of funds is created to address the needs. Through this crowdfunding, we are expecting funds of rupees ten lakhs. This will help 85 children to have nutritive food for 1 year. Nutrition aid is given to children between 6 months to 18 years of age. In addition, pregnant and lactating mothers to receive nutrition aid to have healthy mothers and healthy children. In addition to nutrition aid, awareness on vaccination, right hygiene practices, timely vaccination, nutrition education, deaddiction, and care during pregnancy and lactating period is created through various group meetings and one-to-one counselling. IMPACT: ‘Healthy children with age-appropriate growth and development 1. Children are healthy and enjoy participating in various activities. 2. Children receive age-appropriate vaccines. 3. All pregnant women take appropriate care during the antenatal period. 4. Mothers and caregivers practice right child-caring practices such as early and exclusive breastfeeding, hand washing, and complementary and responsive feeding. 5. Children, men and women in the community practice WASH-appropriate behaviors, use toilets, and seek health care services as and when needed.

Primary Cause :
Preventing malnourishment; promoting healthy growth and development of children

Project Location(s):
Pune and sub-urban areas of the city Fifteen day care centres attending to more than 1000 children per year are spread over across the city especially where there are big construction sites.

Donation support:
Rs. 1700/- per child per month

Options for donations :
For 2 children – Rs. 3400/-
For 5 children – Rs. 8500/-
For 8 children – Rs. 13600/-
For 10 children – Rs. 17000/-
For 15 Children – Rs. 25500/-