New Delhi, April 9, 2024: Quaker, one of India’s leading players in the oats segment, through its ‘Bowl of Growth’ initiative is addressing the cause of child malnutrition through three key pillars – providing nutrition to children aged 3 to 5 years, educating parents/caregivers and spreading awareness in the community.
In a state where malnutrition is a cause of concern, this special nutrition-focused programme was launched in pre-identified blocks of rural areas in Pune, Maharashtra.
To strengthen the pillar on community awareness further, the brand launches its first long-format ad film ‘Dohale Jevan Poshanchi Vaati’. The emotionally evocative narrative not only supplements the nutritional needs required to address child nutrition but also weaves in elements of ethnicity and culture to forge a profound connection with the audiences.
In her remarks on the launch, Sravani Babu, Associate Director, and Category Lead - Quaker, PepsiCo India, said, “Quaker’s endeavour to fight against malnutrition started last year when we partnered with NGO MAMTA HIMC and the Government of Maharashtra, to launch Quaker Bowl of Growth Program in Pune. We have embedded cultural elements from the very start, whether in the form of panjiri, the food served at anganwadis to the children or driving awareness through an age-old ritual, to echo with the community. This short film is yet another leg of spreading awareness delving into the critical importance of nutrition through the lens of a child concerned about his yet-to-be born sibling's wellbeing.”
Vikram Pandey (Spiky), National Creative Director, Leo Burnett India, underscored, "Quaker is one of those few brands that don’t just talk about brand purpose, but also walk the talk. Quaker Bowl of Growth is a fantastic program and needed a heart-warming story to capture its importance. We found that in the cultural ritual of ‘Dohale Jevan’, our film depicts the importance of nutrition, through the eyes of a child who is struggling with it himself and is worried for his yet-to-be-born sibling.”
Central to the film’s narrative is the tradition of Dohale Jevan, a revered Marathi baby shower held during the seventh-ninth month of pregnancy. Through this cultural nuance, the film poignantly highlights the significance of nutrition in a child's life, underscoring Quaker's commitment to ‘Poshan right, toh future bright’ (future is bright, when nutrition is right). It nudges the community to consider nutrition as an important aspect of a child’s growth.
Quaker, in collaboration with NGO MAMTA HIMC, has partnered with the Government of Maharashtra to address the nutrition needs of children in the state.
As part of the ‘Positive Choices’ pillar under PepsiCo Positive (pep+) - a strategic end-to-end transformation towards sustainability – PepsiCo is committed to increase nutritious food access for 50 million people by 2030.
The interventions under the Bowl of Growth program are designed with focus on three key pillars - Nutrition, Awareness, and Education. Nutrition needs are addressed through 'Panjiri', a locally inspired recipe for mildly malnourished children. It is crafted with Quaker Multigrain & Millet, specially designed to be enriched with 18 essential vitamins and minerals, ensuring it is both nutritious and tasty. Awareness is enhanced through specially curated thematic engagement sessions for children and their parents/caregivers. Education is advanced through structured workshops, which are conducted daily, exerting a positive influence on the quality of life for both children and their caregivers. Complementing these efforts, Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials in the form of – posters, leaflets, flipbooks, and an illustrated comic book have also been introduced.
