Are we prepared to lead our country towards positive development?

In the Budget 2016, the total allocation to the ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) was ₹17,408 crore. This included ₹413 crore for funding the National Nutrition Mission, which addresses the maternal and child malnutrition issues.

At present, the government looks after pregnant women in the high-burden districts of India, these districts are defined by their backwardness and their lack of basic facilities. But, the new scheme will be for all families living below the poverty line across the country.

This will ensure that children across the country have equal chances for a healthy growth through access to good and nutritious food.

The Indian demography

India's population that stands over 1.25 billion is expected to become the world's most populous country, overtaking China by 2022. A good percentage of the Indian population, though, does not have access to all the resources are expected to live a very happy and healthy life in the near future. However, currently, the impact of this lack of resources is acutely experienced by the most vulnerable section of the society, the children.

The school lunch provided by The Akshaya Patra Foundation has ensured that no child is deprived of their basic need for nutritious food. Feeding the children is one of chief aims of the Foundation. The main aim is to free a child from the shackles of hunger and help them focus in classroom. A child need not to worry
about a meal.

Power of a full stomach

While a child may be deprived of the required nutrition, it is not just the physical development that would be affected, but also the mental development. A lack of adequate nutrition could affect the intellectual growth because of the less number of micro-nutrients that are necessary for the mental development.

Hence, ensuring adequate nutrition in the food is important not just for an individual, but also for the country as a whole. That is because today's young children are the future of the country. Hence, it's extremely important to feed the children and ensuring they don't have to worry about food, they will be able to focus on their studies alone. And, mentally healthy children would grow up to be healthy adults and for a country to have healthy citizens, this is imperative.

Future Focus

The future is about knowledge economies. To establish a country as a knowledge economy, it's necessary that its citizens are knowledgeable and mentally healthy.

In the knowledge economy, it’s about the intellectual prowess of the citizens of a nation that will define its success. By using the collective intellect of the citizens, India will be able to stand up and grow up to be a rich nation by being able to develop on all fronts.

Akshaya Patra, which plays a role in the intellectual development of the country, is a channel for anyone to contribute towards charity for children who are in need. This will provide you a path to directly play a role in ensuring a bright future for the country.

Let’s feed the children and end classroom hunger

Investing in early childhood nutrition is a definite strategy whose returns are quite high. Feeding the children with nutritious food should be made mandatory in every country. One part of the world suffers the challenges of obese children while many others struggle to feed the children. In both cases, what needs to be highlighted is that a balanced nutrition contributes in keeping the body healthy and in shape.

School nutrition is thus an integral part of children’s lives since one of the three main meals are consumed in schools. So when NGOs such as Akshaya Patra set out on a mission to feed the hungry, they were thinking of schools and how to connect nutrition with education. As the Foundation strives to feed millions of children who may go hungry, the purpose of education is served simultaneously. 

Nutrition and mental growth

Of course there has been a growing awareness about nutrition, and towards feeding the children, there are still several parts of India where food needs to reach the children. In its mission of feeding the hungry by serving wholesome lunch to school goers, Akshaya Patra found a growing interest among children in not only attending the school but also participating in various academic and extra-curricular activities.

When the children don’t get nourishment, they often find themselves feeling physically dull and complaining. That’s precisely why the organisation stresses donors to get involved or to sponsor a child so each of these children get a chance at both good nutrition and education. Shortage of nutrition such as iron and iodine impairs cognitive development among children. Thus, the meals served are rich in these two nutrients.

Brain foods 

One of the many reasons why feeding the children should be stressed more than anything is that the duration of the shortage of nutrition also plays a vital role in a child’s cognitive development. Children that do not have access to consistent supply of nutritious food are found to be with certain learning disorders. Yogurt, green vegetables, nuts and pulses are some of the brain foods that are recommended by nutritionists for the healthy growth of a child. The meals served by Akshaya Patra are especially prepared keeping these brain foods in mind.

Behavioural development

The pre-school years are considered to be quite dramatic and crucial postnatal brain development period. Here’s when children develop working memory, attention and inhibitory control. Primary school years, on the other hand, have a significant contribution in developing behavioural skills wherein nutritious diet plays a major part.

Keeping these facts in mind, we emphasise upon not only serving wholesome lunch to school children but also spreading awareness about nutrition for children in general. Our donors are made aware of the kind of meals that are needed for children so that they practise a healthy diet even around their own environment. You are welcome to join the cause and contribute. Donate today.

Feed the Hungry Today for a Better Tomorrow

Hunger in India is severe. According to Global Hunger Index 2016 report, 39% of India’s children are stunted. What is stunted growth? It refers to reduced growth and development of a child due to (but not limited to) poor nutrition and unhygienic practices. And to add to this, children who are stunted are also believed to experience health issues as they grow.

Today, as we read about it and make ourselves aware of the situation, we all have an opportunity to feed the hungry children – an opportunity to feed children today, for a better tomorrow. At Akshaya Patra, we are striving to achieve two UN Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger and Quality Education. As mentioned in the first paragraph, the organisation is working towards eliminating classroom hunger through Mid-Day Meal Programme (in partnership with Government of India) – an initiative aimed at improving ‘poor nutrition’ levels among school children.

Most of our beneficiaries are dependent on just one square meal served by Akshaya Patra – the meals are freshly cooked in our centralised and decentralised kitchens. As much as mid-day meal acts as an incentive, it is also important for Akshaya Patra that children attend school, learn and become independent in the future. Mid-Day Meal paints an optimistic approach for many families to send their children to school whereas for Akshaya Patra, hygiene and quality are of utmost priority that are not compromised with during preparation of mid-day meals. How does Akshaya Patra manage serving millions of meals on a daily basis? It is due to the support from government, donors and corporates decision to sponsor children that the organisation has been able to effectively operate the Mid-Day Meal Programme across the length and breadth of India.

To maintain effective delivery of mid-day meals, the Foundation uses GPS enabled customised vehicles that can support food temperature. With a growing network of delivery vans and distribution staff, the organisation has been able to deliver meals to over 1.6 million school children across 11 states in India.

The fight to hunger needs to be carried out with a concrete plan. You can play your part by supporting Akshaya Patra from wherever you are. The Food for Education mission aims at realising that both food and education cannot be pursued separately. They need to be seen and sought together. If you think you can be part of a noble cause such as this, you may engage in charity fundraising and donate to charity and win income tax exemption.

Five Reasons Why You Should Invest in Education

‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ – these wise words of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of The United States of America, are timelessly true. Education is the most important tool for the pursuit of knowledge. School education in particular, is of paramount importance in shaping young hearts and minds and securing a bright future for them. Keeping the flame of education alive, though, needs collective effort and significant investment. One way to invest in education is to donate to charity, towards organisations that work towards it. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO that supports the cause of ‘food for education’, serving nutritious mid-day meals to over 1.6 million children across India, strives to keep the light of education burning in the lives of its school children.

Why, you ask, is investment in education so important? Here are five reasons for it:

To secure the future of children

Children are the future and they deserve a tomorrow that comes with financial, physical and emotional security. Education is a means towards this end. It boosts future prospects, encourages their dreams and empowers them to pursue them. Without it, job security and quality employment are difficult to come by and the scope for advancement is limited.

Education breeds gender equality

The world and all the wonderful opportunities it presents, is for both, men and women to inherit. Education plays an important part in freeing people from the shackles of restrictive, outdated mindsets. As the popular saying goes, ‘if you educate a girl, you educate the entire family’. Well-educated adults, thus, challenge traditional gender roles and help create a fairer, more gender-equal world.

A tool for nation-building

If a nation has to progress – economically and socially – education is the first necessity that needs to be met. A well-qualified workforce is a formidable asset that attracts and multiplies investment in the country, leading to more jobs, higher incomes, better standards of living and greater prosperity for the nation. It also leads to a rise in a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A sense of pride develops among citizens when a nation progresses impressively and provides them with great motivation to strive for its further development.

Leads to a healthier population

Education brings knowledge of health and hygiene. Healthy practices in daily life are adopted by well-educated people, since they are made aware and convinced of the rationale behind them. Be it everyday practices, issues related to maternal and child health, or general awareness about steps to take to ensure a healthier future – education is greatly instrumental in teaching people about the same.

It gives back to the giver

Donating to charity benefits the donor as well – it avails them income tax exemption. Under sections 35AC and 80GGA of the Income Tax Act 1961, every donation upwards of Rs 500 made to a registered non-profit organisation, is eligible for 100% tax exemption. Isn’t it wonderful, the fact that investing in education avails tax benefits for the one making the donation?

Education, thus, is the need of the hour and Akshaya Patra is striving hard to ensure that no child is deprived of it due to hunger. So, make the decision to the cause of ‘unlimited food for education’ and make a donation towards it now.

Education is Everybody’s Right

On one particular day in 1948, during the aftermath of World War II, United Nations (UN) set a milestone. The UN published Universal Declaration of Human Rights – a set of fundaments that provide equal opportunity for all – that were to be followed by all nations and all people. On this historic day, a decision was made which would help countries achieve peace in many aspects. About 48 countries, including India, voted in favour of the declaration. Here’s Akshaya Patra’s message on Human Rights Day observed across the globe.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation, children’s charity in India, would like to particularly focus on Article 26 of Universal Declaration which declares education as a right. This children’s NGO began its programme to feed the hungry children in schools (students of government and government-aided schools) to encourage them to continue education. As a trust, the organisation focuses on two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger and Quality Education.

In India, the National Human Rights Commission put forth its covenants only by the end of 20th century; more than 40 years after UN declared human rights articles. Today, these clauses are the voices of many whose lives are not liberated; trapped by unemployment, low or zero income, and other socio-economic issues. Akshaya Patra, with a vision that no child should be deprived of education because of hunger, strengthens many such families by providing mid-day meals to their children. 

Education is everybody’s right - Article 26 in Universal Declaration states:

• Everyone has the right to education
• Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages
• Elementary education shall be compulsory

As it states, India - a developing nation, dreams of achieving 100% literacy rate in the coming years. But to achieve this, many NGOs alike and citizens must come forward to build a nation in a sustainable manner.

Mid-day meal by Akshaya Patra is a promise for every student that they will not sit in a classroom with an empty stomach. Hunger or half-hunger has made many children resort to other choices. But they deserve to be given a fair chance to study and be successful. These children have dreams – to be a doctor, to be a police officer, to be a teacher and many more. Supporting these dreams through education and nutritious mid-day meals will help them achieve their dreams.

Today, as we draw closer to Human Rights Day, let us stand up for someone’s rights. Together, we can achieve peace, development, and universal education. Sponsor a child today to gift them an uninterrupted education. You can also choose to donate for education in India and support a child’s dream.

Giving – A Hallmark of the Extraordinary

In these times of fast cars and faster jobs, a sense of forlornly meandering through a mindless existence often sets in. Leisure, pleasure and privilege often find themselves helpless against this undercurrent. One thing, done in however small a quantity, that always warms the spirit and lifts it, is the act of giving. Those who feed the hungry or donate to charity, offering financial aid or time and resources, will vouch for the exhilaration they feel upon making worthy contributions. Giving undoubtedly makes one an extraordinary individual – in their own eyes as well as in the eyes of others.

One might scoff at the surety with which the statement has been articulated, but there are numerous reasons why it stands true. Firstly, one’s self-image is of paramount importance. Ironic though it is, giving enhances one’s self-worth because the act puts others before oneself. In a world that believes that individuals are wired to be selfish, doing something truly selfless makes one remarkable indeed. Secondly, with the suffering, wealth disparity and wars that are a common fixture, the smallest measure, be it charity fundraising or sponsoring the education of an underprivileged child, matters in making the world a kinder place.

Charity is also a mutually beneficial relationship for all those involved in the exchange. It helps one connect with individuals who are in a vastly different place in life as compared to themselves. This gives one the power that is rare indeed – one to empathise with one’s fellow beings, rather than just sympathise with them. Empathy – the ability to truly understand the other person by putting oneself in his/her shoes – is a hallmark of a mind that has grown and evolved. It allows one to be humane, instead of just human.

In the age of materialism, giving also helps one manage its stresses and uncertainties by nudging one towards the spiritual. Spiritual wellbeing is as important as material success. Giving, which helps one look beyond oneself to the oneness of the universe, is a spiritual activity that helps individuals love and be at peace with themselves. The greatest minds in the world have all extolled the benefits of charity, and now, scientific research backs these ideas, which go back thousands of years. Giving, in its essence, is a way towards self-realisation.

Help nourish a schoolchild’s dream of uninterrupted education by supporting Food for Education. Donate to Akshaya Patra for mid-day meal programme now!