The tiny, 20-bed Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in the Mokhada taluka of Palghar is crammed with children and their young mothers. The yellow walls are adorned with attractive drawings—a towering giraffe and young fawn reminiscent of Disney’s Bambi are seen looking either way; there are also paintings of “dancing” greens—broccoli, bottle gourd and capsicums—carrots, tomato, brinjal and pumpkin. In another artwork, five children are seen flaunting vegetable masks. Everything is meant to focus on healthy eating and nutritious food. But the 11 children at the centre might barely be able to identify with the messaging—they have probably never even eaten 
these veggies. 

The children, all between ages one and five, have been admitted to the centre, because they are malnourished.