Eleven-year-old rural-dwelling students covered by a nationwide nutrition subsidy plan are nearly 6 centimeters taller than children of the same age six years ago, as the rate of malnutrition plummets and the children gain physical strength, a recent report found.

Earlier this month, the China Development Research Foundation proudly shared the achievements of its long-term philanthropic project. Since its launch in 2011, the foundation's project fund has climbed to 159.1 billion RMB ($23 billion), and has benefited more than 4 million impoverished students in rural areas across China’s 13 provinces.

In 2011, research carried out by the foundation revealed that 72 percent of surveyed students in poverty-stricken areas of western and central China were “starving” during class. Twelve percent suffered from developmental delays. These findings sparked nationwide concern and prompted action from top officials.

In October 2011, the State Council announced that the central government would offer nutrition subsidies to 26 million poor students in rural areas. The central government pledged to allocate about 16 billion RMB ($2.5 billion) annually for a pilot project in 680 counties and cities nationwide, ensuring that all primary-school and junior high-school students received a daily subsidy of 3 RMB to improve their nutrition.

Some regions elevated the subsidy to 4 RMB, and the beneficiaries multiplied. In addition, the central government earmarked special funds totaling 42.9 billion RMB for poor boarding-school students. Another 30 billion RMB was put aside to build and improve school cafeterias, and to subsidize cafeteria workers.

The new report found that the malnutrition rate among beneficiaries had decreased from 18.5 percent in 2012 to 15.4 percent in 2016. The average height of 11-year-old boys had risen from 137.8 centimeters in 2012 to 143.5 centimeters in 2016. For girls, average height had jumped from 138.7 centimeters to 144.3 centimeters. The 4-RMB subsidy for each meal “effectively meets the basic nutritional demands of students,” according to the report. In addition, meals in more than half of the schools surveyed met national benchmarks in calories, protein, fat and micronutrients.

The project has reversed the malnutrition and delayed physical development of beneficiary students, and their physical fitness has also improved significantly, the report concluded.