Morning Nutrition Reaches the Roof of India: Annapoorna’s Programme in Ladakh
On 11 November 2025, children at Anganwadi centres in Leh began their day with a new routine. The Department of Social and Tribal Welfare, Leh, working under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), joined us to launch a Morning Nutrition Programme for 1,000 Anganwadi children. It was our first launch in Ladakh. A programme that grew from a village breakfast has now reached one of India’s most remote regions.
Why Annapoorna Trust Ladakh matters for child nutrition
Ladakh is high, cold and far from the rest of the country. Our CEO, Anand Kumar Kadali, said the region’s extreme climate and geography create unique nutritional challenges. The Director of Social and Tribal Welfare made a similar point, noting that such partnerships play a crucial role in improving children’s nutrition in remote regions like Ladakh.
We call the problem “hidden hunger”. Children may eat but still lack the vitamins, minerals and protein they need to grow. A morning nutrition programme is designed to fill that gap.
The launch day in Leh
The launch was attended by senior officials from the Ladakh administration and our team. The Director of the Social and Tribal Welfare Department, Ladakh, and the District Programme Officer of ICDS Leh were present, along with our National Manager and Regional Manager. The CDPO Leh, supervisors, Anganwadi workers and children also joined us.
The ceremony was simple. The Director and the District Programme Officer served chocolate and milk-based drinks to the children, marking the start of the programme. The District Programme Officer also promised full cooperation and regular monitoring so that the programme is implemented well.
What each child receives
The programme is built around SaiSure, our multi-nutrient health mix. Children aged 3 to 6 receive SaiSure Malt Multi-Nutrient Health Mix with milk powder six days a week. Each serving contains 5 grams of SaiSure and 10 grams of milk powder, with vitamins, minerals and protein. Our aim is to fill nutritional gaps, support growth and immunity, and improve focus.
We make SaiSure in our own nutraceutical manufacturing unit. The product reaching Leh is the same one we supply across the country.
Why we started with Anganwadi centres
In Ladakh, we began with the Anganwadi system rather than schools. This reflects a wider shift: in 2024, we announced that we were extending our nutrition programme to Anganwadi centres, bringing nourishment to children as young as 4 years.
There are practical reasons. Early childhood is when growth and brain development are fastest, and Anganwadi centres already reach young children and their families through an existing government network. Our Ladakh model fits into that structure instead of building a new one.
A partnership with the Ladakh administration
This programme is a partnership between us and the Government of Ladakh, not a standalone project. We supply the nutrition, and the administration’s ICDS network provides the centres, the workers and the monitoring.
This is how we work elsewhere too. We enter MoUs with governments so we can work through existing public infrastructure.
Our Ladakh footprint in numbers
The starting scale is modest and focused:
- 118 Anganwadi centres. We planned to cover 118 centres, benefiting around 1,000 children in the initial phase.
- 1,000 children in the first phase.
- Leh district. The programme currently serves Anganwadi children in Leh.
- Unchanged in 2026. Our brochure, updated as of August 2026, still lists Ladakh at 118 centres and 1,000 children.
Our wider programme is far larger. We operate in 25 states and 4 Union Territories, including Ladakh, and serve close to 10 million children. Ladakh is a small share of that in numbers, but it adds a new kind of terrain.
What comes next for Ladakh
Officials have already looked beyond the first phase. Officials from the Women and Child Development Department thanked us and showed interest in expanding to more Anganwadi centres across the region. The District Programme Officer’s promise of regular monitoring means the results will be tracked. The next test for our Ladakh programme is whether those results justify expansion.
A small start with a clear purpose
Nearly a year on, Ladakh remains one of our smallest programmes by numbers and one of our most distinctive. It shows that a model that began with about 50 children in one village can be adapted for a remote Union Territory, if a government partner is willing.
Let no child go to school hungry, ever.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Annapoorna Morning Nutrition Programme in Ladakh?
It is a programme by the Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, run with the Ladakh administration, that serves SaiSure nutrition to Anganwadi children in Leh every morning.
When was it launched in Ladakh?
On 11 November 2025. The press release carries the date 25 November, which is when it was circulated.
How many children and centres does it cover?
The initial phase covers 118 Anganwadi centres and about 1,000 children. The Trust’s August 2026 brochure shows the same figures.
What do the children receive?
Children aged 3 to 6 get 5 grams of SaiSure Malt Multi-Nutrient Health Mix with 10 grams of milk powder, six days a week.
Who runs it with the Trust?
The Department of Social and Tribal Welfare, Leh, under ICDS, and the Women and Child Development Department, Ladakh.
Is the programme free for children?
Yes, the Trust’s morning nutrition is free of charge for children.
Does it cover districts beyond Leh?
Currently the programme runs in Leh. Officials have shown interest in extending it to more Anganwadi centres.
How many states does the Trust work in?
The Trust operates in 25 states and 4 Union Territories, serving close to 10 million children.
