In a significant step toward enhancing nutritional security and livelihood empowerment in rural Madhya Pradesh, a state-level workshop on the Community Nutrition Garden (CNG) initiative was organized at Vikas Bhavan Auditorium, Arera Hills, Bhopal. The workshop, conducted in collaboration with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), GIZ India, and Pradaan Sanstha, saw participation from over 450 attendees, including women self-help group (SHG) members, Gram Rozgar Sahayak (GRS), Sarpanch, and district-level officers.

The workshop was inaugurated by Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Smt. Deepali Rastogi, and Commissioner of Madhya Pradesh State Employment Guarantee Council, Avi Prasad, who jointly lit the ceremonial lamp. During the event, an e-learning module and a knowledge booklet on the Community Nutrition Garden were launched to promote sustainable agricultural practices and nutritional awareness in rural areas.

Addressing the participants, MGNREGA Commissioner Avi Prasad emphasized the importance of empowering women farmers and ensuring fair compensation for their contributions. "We need to change our mindset. The women for whom we create assets under our schemes must be empowered, and their work must be valued fairly," he said.

Tapan Gope, Deputy Project Director of GIZ India, highlighted the project's progress, stating that over 1,000 community nutrition gardens have been established since 2019, directly benefiting approximately 30,000 SHG women. He emphasized the crucial role these gardens play in enhancing local food security and economic empowerment by providing communities with fresh, nutritious produce.

A special segment titled "Stories from the Ground" featured Sunita Kushwaha, an SHG member from Simaria village in Rewa district, who shared her inspiring journey. She explained how, through the Panchayat-supported Community Nutrition Garden Scheme, she improved nutrition levels within her family and village while also enhancing livelihood opportunities for local women.

Ms. Archana, Integrator of Pradaan Sanstha, stressed the importance of women-led agricultural initiatives in transforming rural communities. "When women lead their land and labor, they not only improve their livelihoods but also lay the foundation for the health and prosperity of the entire village," she remarked.

CEO of Madhya Pradesh Livelihood Mission,  Harshika Singh, called for effective water management and collective efforts to scale the Community Nutrition Garden initiative into a sustainable, business-oriented model. She emphasized that such efforts are key to making the initiative widely effective and economically viable for rural communities.

For a state like Madhya Pradesh, which faces persistent malnutrition despite being an agricultural leader, the Community Nutrition Garden model is emerging as a viable solution. The initiative aims to eradicate malnutrition in villages by promoting women-led, community-driven agriculture while strengthening local food systems and improving rural livelihoods.