Mamta
It Wasn’t Just Iron. It Was Hope
Mamta Devi, a Class 12 student from Janta Inter College in Kachhauna block, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, had grown used to feeling exhausted. She would often miss school because of dizziness and frequent bouts of fever. At home in Matua village, her family didn’t think much of it. Her father, a government school teacher, and her mother, a homemaker, believed her weakness was simply because of exam stress or irregular eating.
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But a routine health camp conducted under our nutrition initiative Project Sampushti, as part of the Suposhit Gram Panchayat program, revealed the real issue behind her condition. Her hemoglobin was dangerously low at 5 g/dL. At just 38.1 kg and 142 cm tall, Mamta was clearly undernourished and needed urgent support.
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She was immediately referred to the Community Health Centre in Kachhauna, where she received counselling and guidance from trained doctors and ARSH (Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health) counsellors. Once back in her village the Sampushti Saathis (Nutrition Buddies - our project’s outreach workers) started regular follow-ups.
They gave Mamta iron-folic acid and moringa supplements, checked in often, and helped her and her family understand the importance of a diet rich in iron and green vegetables.
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At first, Mamta hesitated to follow the instructions. It was only after her parents attended an awareness session that the shift truly began. Her father, Ramprakash Srivastava, admitted, “As a teacher, I understood the importance of nutrition, but as a father, I truly felt it when I saw my daughter recovering.”
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Within three months, things changed. At the follow-up camp, Mamta’s hemoglobin had risen to 9.1 g/dL. Her weight had gone up to 40.9 kg, and she had grown taller too. More than the numbers, what mattered was how she felt -energized, alert, and hopeful. The fatigue was gone. The illness was no longer constant.
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Mamta now attends school regularly, studies for her board exams, and dreams of going to college. Her family has become an advocate for the program, encouraging others to get screened and follow the guidance.
“This program gave me my daughter back,” her father says. “It’s not just about curing anemia, it’s about giving girls like Mamta the future they deserve.”
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Mamta’s story is a reminder that when adolescents and their families are supported together, true transformation is possible and that is exactly what Project Sampushti aims to do every day.
