Dantewada transforming itself with its invaluable experiences

Dantewada TNINS 

Chhattisgarh's innovative initiatives were showcased at the International Summit on Social and Behavior Change Communication held in Marrakesh, Morocco from December 5 to 9. The 'Bapi Na Uwat', is an innovative program initiated by the Dantewada district that has garnered accolades in the field of behaviour change at the international level. The grandmother is known as ‘bapi’ in the local Gondi language. Bapis are participating voluntarily in the program and motivating the mothers and family members on child care, feeding, breastfeeding, health and nutrition. There is one Bapi in each of the 143 gram panchayats of the district. Bapis get the support of village-level volunteers, ‘Satrangi Nayak’ and ‘Satrangi Nayika’. This Chhattisgarh model was highlighted by UNICEF Head of Social Behavior Change (SBC) Mr.Siddharth Shrestha, and SBC expert Mr. Abhishek Singh.

An innovative initiative of the Dantewada district, the ‘Bapi Na Uwat’ program was launched on December 10, 2020, to reduce the rate of malnutrition in the district and adopt healthy practices, with the technical support of the District Administration and UNICEF. Almost 200 Bapi working in the gram panchayats of the districts are motivating the community to adopt healthy practices through various activities which belong to health, education, nutrition, and cleanliness in Satrangi Sabha, Gram Sabha, Mahila Sabha, Yuva Sabha in Devgudi at the community level. Along with Bapi, the youth are now participating in community awareness programs as ‘Satrangi Naak’ and ‘Satrangi Nayika’. It is a great pride that Dantewada's story of Bapi has garnered great accolades at the Global Summit held in Morocco.