The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a NGO in India headquartered in Bangalore. Akshaya Patra as a NGO implements mid-day meal programme in Government schools and Government-aided schools in 9 states of India. NGOs have various roles to play when it come to uplift a society for a better tomorrow. This is why NGO role in India and worldwide is so significant. As a NGO, Akshaya Patra’s role in India is towards providing mid-day meal to children in need so that they can get at least one wholesome meal and the goodness of education.
NGOs prove to be an important channel for implementing various Government Schemes and Programmes. There are many NGOs that are working towards child rights, education, health and nutrition. Each NGO role in India thus has a certain focal area, towards which the NGOs direct their work and effort. Akshaya Patra similarly focuses mainly on providing mid-day meal to children, but this does not make Akshaya Patra NGO for children. This is so because the Foundation works towards other feeding initiatives too like:
- Feeding expecting and lactating mothers
- Feeding in special schools
- Subsidized lunch for the economically backward
- Feeding runaway children
- Feeding in old-age homes
- Feeding the homeless
- Disaster relief
Apart from the above initiatives Akshaya Patra as a NGO also works towards other social initiatives like:
- After class tuitions
- Life Skills Programme
- Community Health Camps
- Scholarship Programmes
- Disaster Relief
- Health Check up Camps
Though Akshaya Patra as a NGO primarily focuses on providing school lunch to children studying in Government schools, at the same time it places significant importance to education too. This is the reason the Foundation believes in providing “unlimited food for education”. The NGO foresees the potential of education in freeing the society from the recurring cycle of poverty.
Here it becomes evident that as a NGO, Akshaya Patra’s role in India proves to be of double advantage. The role of Akshaya Patra is also being of help towards achieving two of the crucial UN Millennium Development Goals- hunger and illiteracy.
The significance of NGO role in India can be seen in the way Government Schemes and Programmes have been implemented in every corner of the country. The role becomes evident when we see the way India has progressed in the past years. It these NGOs that have helped in transforming many lives that were in wait for support and help. The role of Akshaya Patra is also similar. The cause the NGO is working towards have transformed the lives of million of Indian children in need.
Apart from providing these children with a wholesome meal, it is also helping the children in India to get educated. Every time Akshaya Patra serves a meal it nourishes the body and mind too. It allows the children to better concentrate and perform in academics and also lets them to dream and achieve high in life.
As a NGO, Akshaya Patra’s role in India is crucial. Be a part of Akshaya Patra and lend your support for this noble cause.
