Empowering Musahar Community Women through Kitchen Gardens: A

Solution to Malnutrition in UP, India

Amid India's battle against malnutrition and hunger, the Musahar community in Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh (UP) stands as a testament to resilience and transformation. Their journey from
vulnerability to empowerment is a result of an innovative approach – kitchen gardens.
Spearheaded by the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), these gardens
have become a symbol of hope, addressing malnutrition at its core and empowering women
to rewrite their destinies.
For years, the Musahar community endured both societal discrimination and malnutrition.
The plight of girls and women was particularly alarming, as they bore the brunt of insufficient
diets and inadequate care. The consequences were far-reaching, perpetuating a cycle of ill
health and deprivation that transcended generations.
Enter the PVCHR's kitchen garden initiative – a groundbreaking endeavor that harnessed
vacant plots within the Musahar communities of Varanasi. These gardens were not just about
cultivating crops; they were about cultivating empowerment. Guided by PVCHR's teachings,
families learned the art of vegetable cultivation, from soil preparation to nurturing seedlings,
ensuring proper drainage, and harnessing sunlight effectively.
Nourishing Bodies and Spirits
The impact was profound. Musahar families experienced a culinary and nutritional
transformation as fresh produce found its way onto their plates. The gardens' bounty included
sponge gourd, bitter gourd, and snake gourd, among others, offering a palette of essential
nutrients that had been missing for generations. Malnutrition's grip began to loosen as girls
and women embraced these vibrant additions to their diets.
Empowering Women Through Greenery
Beyond nutrition, the kitchen gardens nurtured empowerment. Musahar women, who had
often been confined to the peripheries, stepped into newfound roles as caretakers of these
gardens. As they cultivated the earth, they cultivated confidence, breaking free from the
chains of marginalization. This empowerment extended beyond the gardens, spilling into
their roles within families and communities.
A Holistic Solution
The success of PVCHR's initiative reaches far beyond just alleviating malnutrition. It embodies
a holistic approach to community well-being – physical, emotional, and economic. These
gardens served as vehicles of change, enabling Musahar families to grow not only vegetables
but also hope, self-reliance, and dignity.
Inspiration Beyond Boundaries
The impact of kitchen gardens has reverberated beyond the Musahar communities. It's a
testament to the adaptability and potential of localized solutions in tackling broader societal
challenges. PVCHR's approach, grounded in education and empowerment, offers a blueprint
for addressing malnutrition, not just in India, but across the globe.
As the Musahar community continues to tend to their kitchen gardens, they sow seeds of
transformation, resilience, and hope. The gardens have become a metaphor for their journey
– from barrenness to abundance, from vulnerability to empowerment. PVCHR's innovative
intervention demonstrates that the path to combating malnutrition involves more than food;
it involves nurturing empowerment, breaking cycles, and ultimately rewriting destinies. As we
witness the flourishing of these gardens, we witness the flourishing of lives, proving that a
plot of earth can hold the power to transform societies.
For a better understanding of the work around the Musahar community, please find a few links below:
Link 1: Kitchen Gardens - The Way To Fight Hunger And Malnutrition
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/kitchen-gardens-the-way-to-fight-hunger-and-m, you an expert column
by Dr Suneela Garg from IAPSM on strengthening MIYCN in medical community malnutrition/331795
Link 2: Focus On Adolescent Girls, Kitchen Gardens Helping Musahar, Nut Communities in Varanasi
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/focus-on-adolescent-girls-kitchen-gardens-helping-musahar-nut-
communities-in-varanasi/332753
Link 3: Landless Labourers And Beggars To Entrepreneurs: Big Musahar Leap Through Kitchen Gardens
https://news.abplive.com/news/india/musahar-story-part-iv-landless-labourers-and-beggars-to-entrepreneurs-big-
musahar-leap-through-kitchen-gardens-1589627
Link 4: How Residents In Varanasi Are Using Their Backyards To Improve Health And Livelihood
https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2019/04/kitchen-garden-a-initiative-against-malnutrition/
Link 5: Effective Tackling of Micronutrient Deficiency Through Kitchen Gardens
The People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) has started kitchen gardens in Musahar communities of Varanasi
to include fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. The Committee has taught the community how to grow vegetables on a
vacant plot, drainage & sunlight management, and how to take care of seedlings, manure, etc. (Raghuvanshi, 2019). This
intervention has led to sufficient availability and increased consumption of vegetables such as sponge gourd, bitter gourd,
and snake gourd amongst others. https://mpp.nls.ac.in/blog/effective-tackling-of-micronutrient-deficiency-through-kitchen-
gardens/