According
to the famous theory ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ food is one of the most
fundamental needs—if hunger is not solved, it becomes impossible for humans to
reach higher standards of needs like education. This theory asks us a simple
question: Will a child be able to sit in a classroom with an empty stomach?
In an
attempt to relieve children from classroom hunger, The Akshaya Patra Foundation
began providing mid-day meals to government school children in India to ensure
they receive both nutrition as well as education. The role of NGOs in India is
increasing every day to reduce the nation’s socio-economic issues—lack of
education being one of them. The Foundation believes that food for education
will contribute to achieving economic stability in the long-run and will also
improve every section of the society. 15 years ago, Akshaya Patra began serving
mid-day meals to only 1500 school children. Today, it has progressed to more
than 1.5 million children across 10 states in India making it the world’s
largest (non-for-profit) run Mid-Day Meal Programme in India.
There
are two ways many children in India are benefitting from Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meals—a wholesome meal every day
to be on the healthier side and uninterrupted education despite the financial
hurdles at home. Akshaya Patra has been working along with the Government of
India and State Governments to reduce the number of children exposed to severe
hunger. The combined and continuous efforts with the government have resulted
in tremendous opportunities for children to attend school; for it is education
that projects a secure future.
For India
as a developing nation, feeding the future is a mission. The Global Hunger
Index (GHI) 2008 states that more than 200 million people in India go hungry
every day making food sufficiency an urgent priority. Despite economic progress
over the decade, the report still highlights the severe hunger situation in
India.
India
has many challenges to fight. Solutions are many. However, if the country
continues to focus on two aspects – food and education, the results can be what
Planning Commission of India has envisioned for 2020—achieving 100 per cent
school enrolment of all children.
It
is also The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s mission to target 5 million children
everyday by 2020 and ensuring that these children are able to concentrate
better in classrooms. You can get involve by joining Akshaya Patra in raising
awareness about the programme as well as contributing to the cause. All it
takes is Rs. 750 to feed a school going child and you can help us too.
No comments:
Post a Comment