Charity donation – A Noble Endeavour Paired with Tax Benefits

The financial year-end is around the corner – an event that causes much anxiety to a majority of us. Why not round it off with a noble deed that will benefit you in more ways than one! We’re talking about charity donation. Giving back to society is one of the best ways of expressing your gratefulness for all that you have received and share some of your good fortune with those who are in need of assistance to better their lives. This is the perfect time to make that essential difference to the lives of your young friends who are beneficiaries of The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Its Mid-Day Meal Programme ensures that over 1.6 million children across India stay away from classroom hunger, with a nutritious, wholesome, unlimited school lunch every day. You can avail tax exemption with your valuable contribution to the cause of ‘unlimited food for education’.   

The NGO role in India is one of vital support to the government in helping fight the pressing challenges facing the country. Akshaya Patra too fulfills its role in social betterment, in partnership with State and Central governments in India. A donation made to the organisation brings it a step closer to achieving its important mission of feeding 5 million children by 2020. It also helps you avail tax exemption in India, as Akshaya Patra is registered under section 35AC of the Income Tax Act 1961. Therefore, every donation upwards of Rs 500 is eligible for 100% tax exemption under Section 80GGA.

In a bid to scale up its efforts to feed a larger number of children across the country, Akshaya Patra needs the collective support of all of you urgently. The Foundation has undertaken ambitious efforts to expand its reach across India. In December 2016, we laid the foundation of our first high-tech mega kitchen in Telangana at Khandi. Once operational, this kitchen will feed over 1,00,000 children in the region from the next academic year. In the same month, the Foundation also initiated the process of setting up 11 new kitchens in Uttar Pradesh. These kitchens will be established in the districts of Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur, Etawah, Kannauj, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Rampur and Ballia. This will take the number of Akshaya Patra’s beneficiary children in the state to 13 lakh, from the current 2,11,680. This will lead to an increase of a whopping 10,88,320 children that will be nourished by the Foundation’s meals!

In order to expand and grow sustainably, Akshaya Patra relies on the large-hearted backing of generous individuals who are as zealous about eliminating classroom hunger as the government and the Foundation are. Not only does ‘food for education’ ensure that India’s children – its future – are nourished well and have their stomachs full, it also positively affects attendance and enrollment. The Mid-Day Meal Programme is an incentive with that comes with triangular benefits for children, on their health, education and nourishment! The impact of supporting this cause on your life will be doubly large – not only would you have the pleasure of having contributed to secure the future of the nation’s children, you would also beget a wonderful advantage in return – that of 100% tax exemption in India!

NGOs Role in Bridging Social Justice - A Universal Right

In his message for World Day of Social Justice, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of UN, said: "With exclusion and inequality on the rise, we must step up efforts to ensure that all people, without discrimination, are able to access opportunities to improve their lives and those of others." After the UN adopted the declaration in 2007, the world has been coming together annually to recognise and celebrate World Day of Social Justice on February 20. The day supports gender equality, rights of indigenous peoples and migrants, and peaceful co-existence. 

We, at Akshaya Patra – an NGO in India, believe social justice is a universal right and every person should be given equal opportunity and a fair chance. Here are three aspects we would like to observe on this important day.

Social Equity

Social injustices negatively impact humanitarian efforts of spreading peace, upholding of rights, equality, and others. In the times of Information Age, where every economy is an active participant of nation building, it becomes an important decision for each one of us to ensure fairness prevails. What does that mean? Remove casteism treatment and support every individual – be it in the field of education or employment, consider their ability and skills and not their background. If not, empower them as they deserve a fair chance.

Gender Equality

Until a few decades ago, women belonged to an isolated community. The concept of gender equality sprang as people began to discuss the oppression faced by women and why women were the victims of basic rights. Today, in most countries, men and women have achieved their dream and continue to empower the disadvantaged class. Akshaya Patra supports gender equality and believes in constructing a society where both the gender groups are given the same rights and opportunities.

Sustainable Prosperity

It means sustainable development of earthy beings – not just humans but environment as well. With basic needs, knowledge and abilities, we are responsible for ensuring our surrounding is protected. And all of this starts with teaching children about sustainability. To safe guard the environment from obstruction, we must take action now and spread awareness.

Mid-Day Meal Programme by Akshaya Patra brings children together – for better health, for education and for equal opportunities. Keeping out discrimination, the programme also promotes socialization as children sit together for lunch. Playing the role of an NGO, thus, helps the economy in nation-building; an inclusive goal India is heading for.

Akshaya Patra accepts charity donations and these donations are tax exempted in India. You can support Food for Education by sponsoring a child’s meals!

Role of NGOs in India in Solving Hunger

Hunger - an epidemic situation among the low-income groups in this world. Hunger – a life threatening situation for everyone especially children.

There are so many food items out there in abundance which will never teach us the real meaning of hunger. Every four hours, we snack on something or probably have full meal to avoid hunger. But there are millions of children out there who struggle for a single meal in a day. We know of many children who are often undernourished as they struggle to get one-time meal during the day. These are also the same children who have no access or inclination towards education.

There are many organisations in India that are playing the role of NGOs and have been trying to address hunger issues. These NGOs act as a channel for people like us to reach out to those in need. One of the leading names is Akshaya Patra that successfully combined food and education wisely so as to reach more and more children with the two basic necessities of life.  The NGO headquartered in Bangalore provides mid- day meals to the children in schools to help them grow and learn with a nutritious diet.

The real meaning of hunger 

Most people associate hunger with quenching the physical need of food. Often when we are hungry, we invariably say – do you have something to eat? We are often vague about food. The only time we truly care about the ingredients of food is while feeding children. The real meaning of hunger for a child differs, and it should. For a child, hunger would mean deprivation of a meal that is instrumental in his physical and mental growth.

Similarly, children have a hunger for their dreams and things that they want. Children have an inherent hunger for knowledge and education. They are curious and wish to quench their thirst for knowledge. The role of NGOs in India thus becomes bigger when it comes to dealing with children’s meal and education issues. Akshaya Patra continues to reach out to millions of children to transform their lives. Also, their work is completely transparent and they make all their information available to public. The organisation strives to quench both physical and mental hunger of children with its mission ‘Food for Education’. When the children get the motivation of a one-time but nutritious meal, they are motivated to come to school. Similarly, parents send all their children to school since they have an assurance that the kids would be fed apart from getting education. This is a progressive model of combining the two missions together which is invariably intertwined. 

Sitting in our offices or comfortable homes, least we can do to help the NGOs such as this by giving what we can. Donating for education in India, especially because it involves supporting the backbone of our country’s future is our contribution to a better society.  All of us do wish to be a part of some noble activity, but our time or job constraints don’t allow us to do so. So here’s our chance to be the game changer in the fight against hunger. All we need to do is make a generous donation to Akshaya Patra and provide children ‘Unlimited Food for Education’. 

Donate today and win tax exemption!

5 Threats to Child’s Well-Being

Children innocently dream about becoming a doctor, a scientist, an astronaut etc. regardless of their families’ social or financial status. They dream of owning a large house and eating in lavish hotels upon growing up even if they’re homeless and hungry in the present. Often, many of these dreams get shattered because of undermined development and helplessness. Being capable, we should help these children to get a better livelihood by doing some charity fundraising. Akshaya Patra, one of the top NGOs in India, gives us an opportunity to provide roots and wings to these kids. It identifies the following as the major threats to children’s well-being and strives for their outright eradication.

Undernourishment

Undernourished kids cannot grow into healthy adults. Hence, good physical, mental and emotional health of children should be ensured by providing them with all the vital nutrients daily. This stimulates their growth and makes them fit.  Each of 2.12 billion meals that Akshaya Patra has served so far has been as per the dietary norms of Central Mid-day Meal Scheme. Its mission is to serve 5 million children by 2020 while securing them a healthy life. Such visionary organisation should be supported.

No access to education

The only way to gain knowledge, fulfill one’s dreams and earn a better livelihood is by gaining education. If lack of money and resources become a hindrance to gaining education, it’s not only a misfortune for the children but also a failure on our part who choose to let things be the way they are. For them to grow up as vigilant and skilled adults, kids need learning. Akshaya Patra does its bit by providing mid-day meals as an incentive to encourage kids to attend classes.

Financial weakness

Sometimes, some brilliant talents go unnoticed because they fail to bring themselves to the notice. So many children don’t go to school because for them, working to earn meals is better than sitting in the classrooms with empty stomachs. There may be good painters, sportspersons, and dancers in the children who go for menial jobs. We should realise our responsibility towards the society that has helped us become what we are and engage in charity fundraising. Our tax-deductible donation can make a large difference.

No access to welfare programmes

There are many welfare programmes that run for benefitting the underprivileged children yet some are missed out because they are hard to reach, unwilling to join or cannot easily participate. As such, facilitating the kids to be able to get the benefit as well as expanding the programmes is important. This is possible only by maximising the support.

Ignorance of the capable ones

Giving some of what we have to the needy is an excellent way to feel beyond materialistic pleasure. Criticising the stagnancy of our society without contributing to its uplifting is unjustified. Thinking that somebody else will help the helpless is the greatest threat to the needy. A small donation is the least we can do as a contribution. A healthy and educated society is all we aspire.

Donate to charity today to experience the truth in the adage: no one has ever become poor by giving.