How we measure our work.
One of our trustees, Dr. K. Niraimathi, is a PhD researcher who leads the monitoring and evaluation of the Trust's work. We track haemoglobin, growth, weight, adherence and birth outcomes across both programmes. What follows is what those numbers show.
Baseline-to-endline results from Kariyalur block, Kalvarayan hills.
Comprehensive assessments, twice a year
- Haemoglobin levels
- Weight, height and growth patterns
- Clinical signs of anaemia and malnutrition
- Dietary habits and general health status
- School attendance, energy and participation
Each child has an individual health record, enabling early identification of risk and timely intervention.
Followed from registration to postnatal
- Haemoglobin levels
- Maternal weight gain
- Supplement adherence
- Birth weight and gestational age
- Preterm births and postnatal recovery
- Participation in education sessions
Our aim is a model that other organisations can replicate.
We believe lasting change comes from working deeply, not widely. By staying with the same communities over time, we build trust, measure our impact, and continuously improve our programmes.
As we continue to learn and strengthen our programmes, we hope they will become models that government and other organisations can adapt in their own communities. That is how a programme rooted in the Kalvarayan Hills can create impact far beyond the region.
The people behind the numbers.
Real people, shared with their documented consent. Each stands for thousands more.
A kilogram of difference
Kokila lives in the Kalvarayan Hills. She is married to a plantation worker, and we met her during her second pregnancy, when she was twenty-three.
Kokila was 19 when she became pregnant for the first time. Severe morning sickness made it difficult for her to eat, and for months she struggled to keep food down. Her baby was born weighing just 2.2 kilograms—a clear sign of how poor maternal nutrition can affect a child even before birth.
Kokila's experience reflects the reality for many women in the Kalvarayan Hills. Anaemia is common, and severe morning sickness often makes it difficult to eat well or continue taking iron supplements regularly. Many mothers begin pregnancy already undernourished, increasing the risks for both mother and baby.
When Kokila joined the Shakthi programme, her biggest fear was that her second baby would also be born underweight. She wanted a healthier pregnancy and a better start for her child.
Shakthi complemented the antenatal care Kokila was already receiving through the Primary Health Centre. We began by addressing the problem that had affected her first pregnancy—severe morning sickness. She received government-approved Siddha supplements, including Madhulai Manapagu, a pomegranate-based formulation traditionally used to help reduce nausea and improve appetite. As she began eating better, she was able to continue her nutritional care more comfortably.
Along with her routine antenatal care, she also received Annabedhi Chenduram to support healthy haemoglobin levels and Nellikai Legiyam, a vitamin C-rich preparation that supports iron absorption. Regular follow-up, nutrition counselling and family education helped her stay on track throughout her pregnancy.
The difference was more than a healthier baby. Throughout her pregnancy, Kokila was supported by ASHA workers and the Primary Health Centre team. They knew her, followed her progress and walked with her through every stage of her pregnancy.
Kokila delivered her second baby at a healthy 3.2 kilograms, in a normal delivery.
Her second baby weighed one kilogram more than her first. One kilogram may not sound like much, but for a newborn it can mean a healthier start to life.
When the dullness lifted
Saravanan is the warden and a teacher at Seva School in the Kalvarayan Hills, a remote tribal region of Tamil Nadu. The school is home to around 200 children, most of them the sons and daughters of migrant workers. Across the hills, residential schools like Seva give nearly 6,000 children the opportunity to stay in school despite the challenges their families face.
Children cannot learn if they are constantly unwell. In 2019, our survey found that 87% of the children we assessed were malnourished. Saravanan saw the impact every day—in children who were frequently ill, underweight and struggling to keep up in school.
Saravanan remembers a time when illness was part of the daily routine. Every day, 20 to 30 children fell sick with common ailments. One member of staff was almost always busy taking children to the Primary Health Centre.
Many of the children were underweight and stunted. They struggled to concentrate, attendance was poor, and classroom participation was low. Instead of the curiosity and energy you expect from children, there was tiredness and disengagement.
That is where Jeevani began. Along with nutrition, we focused on strengthening gut health so the children's bodies could better digest, absorb and use the nutrients they received.
A visiting doctor began seeing the children regularly, monitoring their health and growth. The children received daily milk fortified with Ashwagandhadhi churna to support gut health and immunity, along with high-protein snacks to strengthen their nutrition. Gut health interventions were carried out twice a year.
After about a year, the change in Saravanan's classroom was hard to miss.
Within a year, Saravanan saw a remarkable change. Around 90% of the children experienced fewer common illnesses, and the frequent trips to the Primary Health Centre became rare. Height, weight and other nutritional indicators improved, and adolescent girls reported better menstrual health.
The children had more energy. They were more attentive in class, participated with confidence and were able to engage with their learning in ways Saravanan hadn't seen before.
The change didn't go unnoticed. As families heard about the improvements at Seva School, more parents chose to enrol their children. In just one year, the school welcomed 70 new students, with most families hearing about the programme through word of mouth.