 The study population chosen for this project will include all villages in two rural blocks in Tamil Nadu. The two blocks chosen for inclusion in the study are Kariaypatti and Natham. ASSEFA Association for Sarva Seva Farm is a non-governmental organisation involved in community development, education, and health programs for underprivileged rural communities. Within the ASSEFA area of a block, the health activities consist of a maternal and child health program, which runs antenatal clinics and produces and delivers weaning foods to young children and pregnant women. The engine for this program is the Health Committee in each village. In most ASSEFA program areas, registration of pregnant women by ASSEFA staff or volunteers is virtually complete. Non-ASSEFA villages are slightly better off and served primarily through a variety of government programmes. 