Akshaya Patra - Children NGO in India Working Towards an Educated Future

The purpose of NGOs is noteworthy for the fact that they become a big source for implementation of various laws and rights that get approved in the Central level. For example: the Central Government of India initiated many schemes and rights under child rights and developments like Right to Education, Child Rights, Mid-Day Meal Scheme and many similar schemes. These are implemented by different Indian NGO for children. Health and education form the core purpose behind most of the child right schemes. Thus, there are many NGO for child education and health.

These NGOs are in fact countering many critical issues like poverty, hunger and malnutrition at the grass root level. While some Indian NGO for children are working towards education and health there are others like The Akshaya Patra Foundation that are working towards providing unlimited food for education by implementing the Mid-Day Meal programme for the children studying in Government school and Government-aided school.

It is an Indian NGO that is countering child hunger and illiteracy through its school lunch programme. Based at Bangalore, it operates in nine states of India and feeds 1.3 million children everyday. It aims to feed 5 million children by 2020 and for that it is strategically spreading its reach in other parts of the country too. It has been seen that the mid-day meal acts as an incentive to come to school thereby increasing school enrolment and reducing drop-out rate.

Though not an absolute NGO for children education, yet this Foundation lay substantial importance on education of children in India. This becomes the main reason behind the aim of reaching out to more and more children and serving them with at least one nutritious meal every day. This meal has positively impacted the level of concentration and academic performance among children. This is also a ray of hope for a hunger free and educated future.

All NGOs need help from the society to continue its effort towards resolving specific causes. Help could be in any form- partnership, sponsorship, donations or voluntary work. Donation should not be merely seen as charity rather it should be considered as a significant step taken for a better future. When you donate to Indian NGO, you are being a part and reason for a prosperous India. Join hands with Akshaya Patra and experience the delight of improving the lives of millions of children in India.

source: http://akshayapatra-ngo-india.blogspot.in/

Akshaya Patra Foundation- NGO in India for children

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a Bangalore based NGO in India that was started in 2000. Its vision is that “no child in India shall be deprived of education due to hunger”. It is indeed a thought evoking vision because it directly addresses the issues of hunger and illiteracy at the grass root level. Since inception the Foundation is tirelessly working towards achieving its vision.

In the year gone by the Foundation celebrated the noteworthy feat of serving the billionth meal since inception. It was a great source of motivation towards the aim of feeding 5 million children in India by 2020.

The Foundation believes in providing unlimited food for education. Even though the primary area of work of this Foundation is providing mid-day meal, it is also a NGO in India for education. The reason behind it is the importance it gives to education of children. In fact apart from providing mid-day meal to the children studying in Government schools and Government-aided schools, the Foundation also has other initiatives like Vidya Akshaya Patra and Akshaya Life Skills Programme.

Vidya Akshaya Patra scheme is like an after-school tutorial where students who score less than 35% marks are given guidance and training. Through Akshaya Life Skills children are equipped with various developmental training like self awareness, interpersonal skills, creative and critical thinking, communication and dealing with different situations that children encounter.

Akshaya Patra can be considered as children NGO in India as most of its activities revolve around child development. Through its mid-day meal programme the Foundation is aiming at countering two critical issues of hunger and illiteracy by providing food and education during the formative years of the children of India. Apart from these initiatives it also has Akshaya Anant Scholarship Programme to help children that helps children with funds for higher studies. The main motive behind it is if the children of today are healthy and educated then it is certain that it will lead to a prosperous and bright future.

It is true that there are many NGO in India for children, and Akshaya Patra is one of them too. But the difference lies in the fact by 2030 it does not want to exist in future. As spoken by the founding member of Akshaya Patra, Mohan Das Pai on the occasion of celebrating the billionth meal, “this organization is the only one of its kind that does not want to exist in future because it envisions a future that does not require it.” These words not only instill inspiration but also reinstate the mission in a more profound manner.

Akshaya Patra has strategically grown over 12 years. It is currently operating in 19 locations across 9 Indian states. As an NGO in India, It looks forward to reach out to more and more location so that it can provide at least one nutritious meal to children of India and thereby keep their hope for a brighter future intact.

Akshaya Patra Foundation Mid Day Meal Bringing Children Back to School

Mid-Day Meal Scheme is an initiative of Government of India to tackle childhood hunger. Under this Scheme, free lunch is provided to children of Government schools. The Akshaya Patra Foundation under the aegis of the Central and State Government runs its mid-day meal programme in 19 locations across 9 states of India. Currently the Foundation is serving 1.3 million children across India and it aims to feed 5 million children by 2020. 

The mid-day meal programme has many positive impacts. Studies show that this programme has increased school enrolment rate, countered classroom hunger paving way for better concentration and learning, and decreased drop-out rate. Mid-day meal has also helped in bringing the drop-outs back to school. Here are the anecdotes of three children that testify the potential of mid-day meal in bringing drop-outs back to classroom. Their teacher says, “Apart from our efforts to bring them back to school, the mid-day meal provided by Akshaya Patra has played a vital role in bringing these children back to school. When parents send their children to school they have one hungry stomach less to feed. Without the mid-day meal programme, these children could not have realized their potential.”

Rajeshwari’s comes from a humble background. Her father owns a meat stall and mother runs a small dosa stall to earn for the family. She introduces herself as Raji. Raji dropped out of school because she had to take care of her younger siblings. She was then studying in Grade 1. With innocence she says “I used to tender change at the cash counter.” Just a few months ago Raji got back to regular schooling and now she is a Grade 4 student. 

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Ashok and Uday have similar stories too. At an age when they both needed parental care and affection, they had to play the caretakers role. Ashok went to his sister’s house to take care of his niece. Uday, on the other hand lost his mother at an early age and hence was forced to quit schooling and play the role of a care taker. But the relief lies in the fact that today both of then are back to school.  Being a good athlete Ashok has brought many laurels for the school and Uday is brilliant in his academics and is a top scorer in his class.

Parents of these children and many such children are relieved that their children will at least get one wholesome meal in the school. Stories like these are the factors that motivate Akshaya Patra to tirelessly increase their reach out to more locations to feed the children in  India. Help Akshaya Patra spread its mid-day meal programme to reach out to more and more children. Donate towards a noble cause. Your donation will be a gift to many children, for they will get back their school life. 

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