Multi-Faith Advisory Workshop Strengthens Faith Leadership for Child Wellbeing

By Anjali

On 17–18 September 2025, Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh hosted the MultiFaith Action Coordinating Committee (MFACC) workshop, a national-level advisory platform bringing together faith leaders, interreligious councils, development partners, civil society, and community representatives. The gathering focused on guiding government priorities on child survival, nutrition, health, and holistic development, while mobilizing faith communities to support the most vulnerable and ensure last-mile service delivery. The inauguration coincided with Vishwakarma Jayanti, a day when artisans across India honor their tools. For faith leaders, dialogue serves as their greatest tool — enabling them to build bridges across cultures, religions, and communities — a principle MFACC celebrates as part of the timeless Indian value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world is one family. The workshop also marked the 75th birthday of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, highlighting the collective responsibility of faith leaders to advance unity and resilience for future generations. “Just as artisans honor their tools on Vishwakarma Jayanti, let us honor our greatest tool as faith leaders — the power of dialogue. Dialogue enables us to transcend boundaries, guide our leaders with wisdom, and unite for the future of our children and planet,” said Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji, Co-Founder of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance. In his address, Dr. Markandey Rai emphasized that “faith leaders hold a unique trust and influence within communities, and through MFACC, this trust can be shaped into action that strengthens child nutrition, health, and well-being across India.” Over the two-day workshop, sessions focused on capacity building, dialogue, and joint strategy development for faith-based organizations. Participants engaged in plenary discussions on the role of faith in promoting health, nutrition, education, and climate resilience.

Training sessions on social and behaviour change communication, mapping of community assets, and development of faith-based action plans helped co-create a roadmap for MFACC’s advisory role at both national and state levels. Special sessions on nutrition emphasized faith-led, practical strategies for healthy lifestyles, including promotion of home-cooked food, equitable eating for girls and women, exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, special diets for vulnerable groups, and daily physical activity for children and families. The workshop brought together a broad coalition of organizations including UNICEF India, GIWA, Parmarth Niketan, Caritas India, Brahma Kumaris, Swaminarayan Gurukul Parivar, Global Peace Foundation, Harijan Sevak Sangh, Mahavir Seva Sadan, Delhi Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Punjab University, and Divine Shakti Foundation, reflecting India’s spiritual diversity united in service of children and families. Moving forward, MFACC aims to strengthen evidence and learning on culturally grounded approaches to sustained behaviour change, while ensuring tribal, local, and minority faith voices are included in advisory planning. By mobilizing faith communities and leveraging their moral influence, MFACC exemplifies how dialogue and coordinated action can transform advisory platforms into practical initiatives, ensuring that every child not only survives but thrives in a sustainable, compassionate India.