Fatima was born into a family already under severe strain. Her mother, Gulshan, was raising two daughters in the Zakhira slum community when Fatima was born, with very limited income and support.
In 2016, after the birth of Fatima’s elder sister, her father’s behaviour changed. He became violent towards Gulshan and stopped contributing regularly to the household. When Fatima was born, he left the family to live elsewhere, saying he wanted a son and viewing his daughters as a burden. He has not returned or visited the family since.
From her first days, Fatima’s life was shaped by shortage and irregular care—not because her mother did not care, but because she was alone and working long hours to keep the family afloat. Fatima was born underweight at just 2.5 kg. Gulshan often had to carry her to work at a petrol pump, as there was no one at home to look after her. Feeding was irregular, and access to nutritious food was limited.
As weeks passed, Fatima did not gain weight as expected. She remained small and weak for her age and fell sick frequently. In the Zakhira community, where many children face similar conditions, this often goes unnoticed until the situation becomes serious.
The situation began to change when Asha’s Early Childhood Nutrition Programme started working in the area. The programme focuses on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, a period critical for physical growth and brain development. During community visits, the Asha team identified Fatima as a child at risk due to low weight and poor growth and encouraged Gulshan to bring her to the Asha centre.
At the centre, Fatima began receiving regular nutritious meals and age-appropriate supplements. Her growth was closely monitored. Gulshan was also trained on feeding frequency, hygiene, and preparing low-cost nutritious meals using locally available food.
Alongside nutrition, the programme introduced Gulshan to early childhood care practices. She learned the importance of touch and daily massage in improving circulation, bonding, and weight gain. Fatima was encouraged to play with rattles and simple toys to stimulate her senses and support early learning and motor development.
Over the following months, Fatima’s condition improved steadily. Her weight increased from 2.5 kg to 4.5 kg and has now reached 5.5 kg. She is more active, falls sick less often, and responds better to her surroundings.
Through Asha’s Early Childhood Nutrition Programme, vulnerable children in Zakhira and Mayapuri slum community are being supported at the most critical stage of life, preventing long-term damage and enabling healthier childhoods.
