Categories: Projects|Published On: February 15, 2023|

Project CHIRAG

CHIRAG is a Global Research Translation award (GRTA) project, funded by UK Research Innovations (UKRI) on Sustainable Food Systems. Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) is collaborating with University of East Anglia, UK, along with other Indian Partners PRADAN and Gram Vaani. In Odisha, the project is being implemented by KISS in Koraput and Kandhamal districts and in Jamui district of Bihar by PRADAN and Gramvaani. The project aims to build a proof of concept to address food & nutrition security along with gender equality in India, a problem faced by a vast majority of women and children especially from rural and indigenous communities.

  • Conduct evidence-based advocacy for building and reinforcing Sustainable Food Systems
  • Address food nutrition with gender equality in India through systemic and sustainable up-scaling of grassroots innovation’

The 4Cs of CHIRAG:

Community Led Platform: Build a virtual knowledge and innovation centre which combines a digital platform and participatory field action to ensure gender sensitive and reciprocal knowledge production and exchange.

Creative Practice Hub: Video podcasts, creative writing, theatrical performances, photographic exhibitions- to understand the nutritional content and symbolisms of local festivals.

Curriculum Development: Develop an evidence based curriculum content for universities on food and nutrition security that can be adapted at different levels. This can be used for knowledge co-production and exchange across educational and health institutions.

Constituency Round Table: Conduct evidence based advocacy initiatives to ensure political uptake and galvanize financial and other resources from MP and MLAs in their respective constituency for long term sustainability and institutional acceptance.

The intended beneficiaries are tribal women, children, youth, primary level government functionaries, local leaders and policy makers.

Achievement:

IVRS was set up through which 200 calls received daily on IVRS line – information about food items, their availability, use etc., health & agricultural schemes aired in Odia, Desiya and Kui language. Curriculum revision on food and nutrition papers for PG courses under way to educate students with contextual knowledge. Micro films developed to generate awareness on the nutritional content of locally produced, collected & consumed foods. The film was featured on the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 Table-to-Farm map.