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.
