Malnutrition is one of the biggest problems that rural India faces. It’s the leading cause of mortality in children 0-5 years of age. Undernourished children grow into undernourished adults with poor intellectual and work capacity. Undernourished girls become weak mothers, giving birth to underweight babies thus continuing the vicious cycle of poverty and ill health. Anganwadis set up by the Indian Govt. only provide food to preschool children above 3 yrs of age.

Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS), an organization of health professionals serving a population of 18,000 in 45 forest fringe Adivasi villages of rural Bilaspur in Chattisgarh, has started the "Phulwari" program. Phulwaris are crèche facilities run by local village women where children in the age group of 6 months to 3 years of age are provided nutritious food, developmental toys and basic child care. AID Dallas and Kansas City will support the costs for running 17 Phulwaris with a total of 235 children benefiting from the program.