Champions for Change: Mary Kom & Rani Rampal Collaborate with Action Against Hunger India to promote health and well-being among women and children in India

Mumbai : May 30, 2023 – Action Against Hunger India has collaborated with Indian sports icon, MC Mary Kom, London 2012 Olympics Bronze Medalist & Former Hockey Captain Rani Rampal to promote the overall health and well-being of women and children in India. The collaboration will contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger by 2030, which aims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition worldwide. The collaboration will focus on creating a positive impact on the lives of countless women and children through creating awareness on these issues and promoting solutions.

According to the recent statistics, malnutrition remains a major public health problem in India, affecting millions of children under the age of five and girls and women. Despite India successfully curbing the issue of hunger and making significant progress in reducing wasting among children in the past few decades, much work still needs to be done to knock-out the issues impeding India’s growth story.

Announcing the collaboration, Vinay Iyer, the Chief Executive Officer of Action Against Hunger India said, “We are grateful to have the support of Mrs. MC Mary Kom the very best example of what women can achieve when given equal opportunities. As we work towards building a healthy India by eradicating the menace of malnutrition among children and mothers and world is nearing the deadline to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need to have a strategy to counter undernutrition effectively.

To ensure a healthier and brighter future for all children in our country, it is crucial to prioritize and address the critical issues causing undernourishment. By taking decisive action to tackle these issues, we can help our children fully realize their potential and pave the way for achieving the ambitious goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

MC Mary Kom & Rani Rampal, prominent champions of social causes, have joined forces to promote the importance of healthy living for the betterment of society in the past also. In partnering  with Action Against Hunger India they aim to encourage action against malnutrition.

“Ensuring a healthy and bright future for our children should be our first priority’”, said MC Mary Kom. “I believe that we all have a responsibility to help our disadvantaged children and their parents to ensure that our children have access to opportunities and level-playing field. I am excited to be working with Action Against Hunger India to make a difference in the lives of these children.”

Expressing her excitement about the partnership, Rani Rampal said, “I am truly honored to join forces with Action Against Hunger. As an athlete, I understand the significance of proper nutrition in achieving optimal performance and realizing one’s potential. It is disheartening to witness the devastating impact of hunger and malnutrition on millions of lives, particularly among children. Through this association, I aim to contribute towards a world where every individual has access to nutritious food and the opportunity to thrive.”

 About Action Against Hunger India  

At Action Against Hunger, we drive change from the ground up, to make this world free from hunger.

Since inception in 1979, we have led the global fight against hunger. Our work impact more than 26 million lives every year, through a network of 8000 humanitarian professionals across 50 countries. In India, our operations from the grassroots upwards, are focused on taking decisive action against the causes and effects of malnutrition. We equip people with knowledge and awareness, so they can see their children grow up strong, and for whole communities to prosper.

Our programs cover 1265 villages across four states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat with a multidisciplinary approach to tackle malnutrition among children.

With our First 1000 Days plus of life model, which is based on preventative care, we aim to break the cycle of malnutrition during pregnancy and in the early years of a child’s life. As a whole, our interventions aim to improve access to knowledge on food security and ways to combat malnutrition, health and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

To know more about us, visit www.actionagainsthunger.in

For further information contact:

Melwyn Sequeira

Director – Resource Mobilisation & Communications

msequeira@actionagainsthunger.in

Rhea Mathews

Manager – Communications

rmathews@actionagainsthunger.in