Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Gates Foundation launch Rs 1-crore challenge to combat anaemia

Key facts

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Gates Foundation have launched a Rs 1-crore Grand Challenge to develop iron-rich food products for adolescent girls and women of reproductive age.
• The initiative targets anaemia, which affects approximately 50% of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age in India.
• Grants of up to Rs 1 crore are available for prototype development over a duration of one year.
• The challenge seeks products delivering 4-5 mg of iron per serving in formats such as fortified snacks, bars, chikkis, savoury bites, beverages, gummies, and chewables.
• Successful products may be integrated into schools, community programmes, Anganwadi networks, and commercial retail channels to support the Anaemia Mukt Bharat initiative.