Akshaya Patra Observes World Hunger Day

Hunger is a complex word for children who are starving.  Majority of the children studying in Government schools go without food during lunch hours. For them, satisfying hunger is the major concern than learning. They are ready to go for work with their parents which will fetch them a meagre income.

World Hunger Day is observed every year on 28^th May. The event celebrates sustainable solutions to end extreme hunger and poverty. Studies show that there are millions of children in India who need to earn their own meal at a tender age. Due to this problem, children are unable to attend school. In such a situation mid-day meal served by Akshaya Patra acts a breather for the children.

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is a Government initiative and under its aegis Akshaya Patra implements the scheme. Understanding that hunger is a hindrance for education and health, the NGO feeds the children with meals rich in nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins which are essential for tackling issues of hunger and malnutrition.

Join Akshaya Patra in feeding the hungry children as India is home to the largest number of malnourished children. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) estimates that 48 per cent, or 61 million, under-five children in the country are stunted (they have low height for their age); 43 per cent, or 53 million, are underweight; and nearly 20 per cent, or 25 million, are wasted (low weight for height). Let us stop hunger from claiming the childhood of millions of children. Malnutrition disrupts a child’s mental and physical development – which leads to poor concentration as well as poor critical thinking and creativity.

Hunger is preventable if all of us join hands in supporting Akshaya Patra. If the problem of hunger is solved, children can pursue education as it is the best way to escape poverty. The motive of Akshaya Patra is to stop childhood hunger and thereby support education.

The organisation serves nutritious meals in 24 locations across 10 states of India. In a day, meals are served to 1.5 million children. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the world's largest not-for-profit organisation providing wholesome mid-day meals. For feeding a child for an entire academic year, it will cost only ₹750.

Support us @ www.akshayapatra.org/world-hunger-day

Read our World Hunger Day blog @ http://blog.akshayapatra.org/our-hope-this-world-hunger-day/

Akshaya Patra’s Message on World Food Day

As observed every year, the World Food Day will take place on 16 October. The vital objective is to make people aware about hunger challenges and encourage them to take action.

The theme this year is “Social protection and Agriculture”, defining the role social protection in reducing chronic food insecurity and poverty.  It aims to ensure direct access or the means to buy food.  It is also a practical alternative for stimulating agricultural production and local economy.

Many themes gained prominence each year but the entire focus is to find a way to eradicate hunger altogether. Because, it is a fundamental right to be free from hunger and the right to adequate food. The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child has the access to adequate food or means for its procurement at all times.

Many NGOs and innovative companies are partaking in the attempt to counter hunger by taking responsibility of one of the various initiatives developed by the Government. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such NGO that implements the Mid-Day Meal Scheme across 10 states benefiting over 1.4 million children every day. By providing mid-day meal, it aims to bridge the gap of inaccessibility to wholesome meal during the growing years of underserved children. As children have to attend to school to benefit from the mid-day meal, it also incentivises children to read and learn, thereby developing them into self-sustainable citizens of the nation.

Not just government or NGOs, it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure that children who are the future of the nation have access to nutritious food every day. You can start by supporting Akshaya Patra serve millions of children in schools every day.

Fighting Malnutrition Back

It’s indeed sad to know that 42.5 percent of children in India are malnourished, means every second child is underserved. While 11% of the population is over nourished. The number of malnourished children in India is the highest across the world. Does India have less food when compared to the rest of the nations? No

It’s a paradox of abundance and diversity between the rich and poor is huge. The situation is really grave and people need to act fast. Many programmes have been initiated with the same objective of feeding every child of India. The Mid-day meal scheme by The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one amongst them.

The organisation is dedicated to fighting hunger and malnutrition in India. By implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in government schools and government aided schools, Akshaya Patra aims to provide nutritious food to children as well as promote education every day.

Operating kitchens in 24 locations across 10 states in India, It caters to over 1.4 million children every day. The number is huge by all account but it still has a long way to go when India comes into the picture. There are millions of children still underserved and malnourished and without access to proper education. To see an India where classroom hunger is history and every child is well fed, healthy and smart, people intervention is of utmost importance.

The fight cannot be a one organisation’s battle. It has to a coordinated approach with proper support and funding. The programme is of course expanding successfully due to the crucial and fruitful partnership with the Government of India and various State Governments, and support people from every walk of life.

Akshaya Patra believes in eliminating classroom hunger from India and preventing malnutrition from creeping up and affecting children through its tireless effort. But, the reality can only happen when you join the cause and fight together against this social evil.

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