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Wheels Global Foundation's breastfeeding initiative expands to Jharkhand, India
Using a “train-the-trainer” approach, WGF equips master trainers to mentor ASHA workers and anganwadi staff, who then educate mothers at home.
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Dr. Raj Shah and Ratan Agarwal. / Courtesy Photo.
The Wheels Global Foundation (WGF), a platform established by the global alumni community of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), is scaling its impactful breastfeeding and nutrition initiative to Jharkhand. Leaders from the foundation recently outlined their progress and aspirations, emphasizing the transformative results of their innovative programs.
Transforming infant health through breastfeeding techniques
Dr. Raj Shah, a practicing cardiologist and chairman of WGF’s Health Council, highlighted the critical role of proper breastfeeding techniques in combating malnutrition and infant mortality. “Poor technique has led to severe malnutrition, stunted growth, and increased infant mortality,” Dr. Shah said.
In a pilot program conducted in Maharashtra's Nandurbar district, WGF demonstrated that teaching mothers effective breastfeeding methods resulted in significant improvements. “Just properly holding the baby so they suck the milk adequately resulted in significant weight gain, reduced malnutrition, and halved infant mortality,” he explained.
The initiative, now expanded across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, is set to impact 10 to 15 million babies and their mothers. “With Madhya Pradesh, the whole state has come along. Jharkhand has also approached us, and we’re signing an MoU with the health secretary to begin implementation,” Dr. Shah said.
Using a “train-the-trainer” approach, WGF equips master trainers to mentor ASHA workers and anganwadi staff, who then educate mothers at home. The program integrates interactive Spoken Tutorials and provides mannequins to teach breastfeeding techniques. “This small investment can yield immeasurable benefits,” Dr. Shah added. “Properly nourished babies grow into healthier adults with better cognitive function and opportunities.”
Scaling proven models across states
Ratan Agarwal, president of WGF, discussed the foundation’s vision and broader impact. “Wheels is a social impact platform combining the expertise of IIT alumni and domain professionals to scale promising initiatives,” he said. The foundation focuses on six domains: water, health, education, energy, livelihood, and sustainability, with over 55 curated innovations from 120 ecosystem partners.
Addressing alarming statistics in rural India, where over 75 percent of babies are malnourished or stunted, Agarwal stressed the importance of newborn health. “We’ve developed a Health Spoken Tutorial, combining Dr. Rupal Dalal’s research on breastfeeding techniques with an innovative teaching platform. This approach teaches mothers proper nutrition management through existing health infrastructure,” he said.
The program’s expansion to Jharkhand, one of India’s poorest states, is underway. “We’re piloting the program in Khunti district and are optimistic about scaling it across the state with government and alumni support,” Agarwal said. He appealed to the community for funding, emphasizing the program’s potential to reverse the alarming malnutrition rate.
Both Dr. Shah and Agarwal stressed the urgency of financial and community backing to extend the program’s reach. “This is about giving every baby a fair chance in life,” Agarwal concluded.
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