Putting Iron in Every Bite
People & Communities
India’s nutrition challenge is too large to ignore. According to the Global Nutrition Report, more than half of women of reproductive age live with anaemia, a condition driven by low iron levels that leaves women tired, weak and vulnerable during pregnancy. One in three children under five is stunted, a sign of persistent malnutrition that affects growth and development, and these rates remain far higher than the global average.
Faced with this reality, AWL Agri Business (formerly Adani Wilmar Limited), through Adani Foundation, launched the Fortune SuPoshan Project in 2016 to provide a sustained and community focused response. SuPoshan implies a state of being well-nourished ("su" meaning "good" and "poshan" relating to "nourishment" or "nutrition"). This initiative aimed to deliver hands-on nutrition support and deep community engagement to improve the wellbeing of children, adolescent girls and women.
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A community engagement programme by Fortune SuPoshan at a village in India
What began as a focused effort has grown into one of the most expansive nutrition programmes in the country. Today, Fortune SuPoshan works across 31 sites in 14 states. It covers more than 1,966 villages and 139 urban slums. The programme has reached more than 2.4 million people, including 186,778 children, 122,425 adolescent girls and more than 310,011 women of reproductive age. Beyond the scale, these numbers represent families who now face life with greater strength, clarity and confidence.
A central pillar of the initiative is the remarkable network of SuPoshan Sanginis. Sanginis, a term that translates to female companion or friend, are trained volunteers selected from their own communities, which gives them a natural insight into the realities that families experience. Each Sangini looks after a cluster of villages or city settlements, where she tracks the growth of young children, checks haemoglobin levels among women and adolescent girls, and guides families on everyday nutrition and hygiene. She is also the link that connects households to government schemes, brings women together for group discussions, and encourages entire communities to take part in improving their own health.
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Sanginis working with parents and children in their own community
Millet-based meals promoted by Sanginis during food shortages excarbated by COVID-19
Independent evaluations now show clear improvements in the communities where SuPoshan operates, including measurable reductions in malnutrition, stunting and wasting among young children. Families report better dietary practices, stronger awareness of nutrition and more consistent health monitoring. These outcomes reflect the depth of the programme’s work and the sustained change it brings to households. The initiative has also been recognised with several national awards including honours from SKOCH Award and the Indian CSR awards.
But the deepest impact is reflected in everyday improvements that rarely make headlines. A child who has the strength to run and play without tiring easily. A girl who can concentrate in school without constant fatigue. A mother who feels confident and capable of nurturing a healthy home. These quiet yet powerful outcomes capture what Fortune SuPoshan truly delivers.
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Corporate responsibility often seeks to create meaningful change, but few initiatives enter the everyday lives of people with depth and sincerity. Fortune SuPoshan demonstrates what becomes possible when a company commits to long term community engagement and trusts women as the catalysts of progress. One home at a time and one meal at a time, the programme renews hope in every family, with iron in every bite.