SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Cooperation | NDDB Foundation for Nutrition (NFN) | National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) | Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
On January 6, 2026, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, will inaugurate the National CSR Conclave titled “Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nutrition Security and Malnutrition Mitigation” at New Delhi. Organized by the NDDB Foundation for Nutrition (NFN), the conclave serves as a strategic platform to bridge the gap between corporate resources and the cooperative dairy sector to combat child malnutrition.
Key initiatives and milestones to be announced at the conclave include:
Giftmilk Programme (Phase 3): Launch of the third phase supported by SAIL–Bhilai Steel Plant. The initiative will provide flavoured milk fortified with Vitamins A and D to approximately 4,000 children in government schools located in the mining areas of Chhattisgarh.
Shishu Sanjeevani Programme: A new initiative backed by IDBI Bank‘s CSR funds to provide nutritional support to 3,000 children in anganwadi centres across rural Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Innovative Supplements: The Shishu Sanjeevani supplement is an energy-dense, semi-solid, ready-to-eat fortified product developed by NDDB and manufactured by the Bhandara Milk Union.
Collaborative Framework: The event brings together various stakeholders, including Chairpersons and CEOs of PSUs and private companies, dairy cooperative leaders, and scientists, to deliberate on sustainable strategies for malnutrition eradication.
Thematic Focus: Technical sessions are dedicated to “Malnutrition Eradication through Public Interventions” and “Corporate–Cooperative Collaboration for Nutrition Security”.
What is the ‘Giftmilk’ Programme? It is a flagship CSR initiative by NFN that channelizes corporate funds to provide 200 ml of safe, fortified milk to children in government schools. By leveraging the supply network of local dairy cooperatives, the programme ensures that children receive essential micro-nutrients while simultaneously supporting the livelihoods of rural milk producers.
Policy Relevance
The conclave embodies the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) by demonstrating how the cooperative model can be used for large-scale social welfare. It aligns with the POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the health and well-being of school-going children as a prerequisite for learning.
Strategic Impact for India:
Scaling Malnutrition Mitigation: Since 2016, NFN has reached over 1.5 lakh children across 19 states/UTs, distributing over 44 lakh litres of milk.
Vocal for Local: The use of regional milk unions (like Chhattisgarh Milk Federation and Bhandara Milk Union) to manufacture and supply products ensures that CSR funds stay within the local rural economy.
Public-Private-Cooperative Partnership (PPCP): This model sets a precedent for using the “Cooperative” sector as the implementation arm for “Corporate” social responsibility, ensuring high transparency and community trust in project delivery.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Ministry of Cooperation create a ‘National CSR-Cooperative Portal’ to help small dairy cooperatives across India pitch local nutrition projects directly to India’s top 100 profit-making PSUs and private firms?
Follow the full news here: Strengthening Nutrition Security Through Cooperation