Guwahati: Assam’s ‘Matsya Paripusti’ initiative, which uses scientifically processed powder made from small indigenous fish to improve child nutrition, has received the state government’s prestigious Karmashree Award.
Implemented in Kamrup district, the initiative transforms locally available small fish varieties such as mua and dorikona into a nutritious powder, which is added to hot, cooked meals served at Anganwadi centres and lower primary schools.
The fish is processed whole, machine-dried and then ground into powder, retaining nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron, essential vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and other micronutrients.
The programme is led by the School Inspector and District Elementary Education Officer (Kamrup), Tapan Kumar Kalita, and his team. It began with awareness and demonstration programmes in 2023 and was initially introduced during Nutrition Month among nearly 7,000 children across 293 Anganwadi centres. The initiative recorded an acceptance rate of around 95 per cent among the children.
The programme was later implemented across 55 Anganwadi centres and 43 lower primary schools, covering around 3,300 children through a six-month intervention.
Scientific assessments carried out at the baseline, midline and endline stages showed improvements in haemoglobin levels, anaemia, nutritional status and growth indicators among participating children. The findings were analysed by WorldFish and subsequently submitted to the National Fisheries Development Board.
The Matsya Paripusti model is now being considered for wider implementation under PM-POSHAN and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in Kamrup, Darrang and Morigaon districts.
Apart from addressing child nutrition, the initiative has the potential to generate livelihood opportunities by increasing demand for locally produced fish and supporting fish farmers, processors and rural entrepreneurs.
The programme demonstrates how locally available resources, scientific processing and coordinated government intervention can be combined to address nutritional needs while supporting rural livelihoods in Assam.