Akshaya Patra, charity in Karnataka, an expert group member - 3rd State Human Development Report, 2014!

Akshaya Patra, NGO implementing Mid-Day Meal Scheme was one among the expert group members in workshop organised by Karnataka State Planning Department on 29th March, 2014. The Planning Department in collaboration with UNDP – Planning commission organised workshop, in order to bring a third State Human Development Report, 2014 under the project “Human Development: Towards Bridging Inequalities”. The charity in Karnataka was part of the workshop to provide its inputs on the Food and Nutrition section of the report. The organisation that feed hungry children has been invited to be part of the discussion, due to its rich experience in serving food over years.


The workshop in which, the said charity in Karnataka participated, was inaugurated by Latha Krishna Rao, Additional Chief Secretary, Food and Supplies Department. Many other dignitaries were also present in the workshop inaugural. As an organisation that implements Mid-Day Meal Scheme to feed hungry children, Akshaya Patra was also a participant of the event.

As it implements Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Akshaya Patra was invited to provide its view points for the chapter Nutrition and Food, an intrinsic part of State Human Development Report. The charity in Karnataka was presented with its opportunity due to its rich experience and expertise on the subject. Akshaya Patra started its programme to feed hungry children in the year 2000.

The objectives of the proposed report are

• To assess the status of Human Development in the State
• To identify trends and key indicators
• To outline crucial issues with focus on regional
• To develop strategies to attain inclusive growth

The Charity in Karnataka, The Akshaya Patra Foundation has emphasised on the need for more effective implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, especially in the remote regions. The organisation that feed hungry children emphasised that quality of nutrition is such that it has direct effect on learning abilities and skill acquisition. Hence cognition and mental health should also be given equal importance as physical health.

Akshaya Patra, organisation that feed hungry children, has also presented the author with Dietary Guidelines published by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad (a brief on Nutrition & Cognitive Development by NFSMI; NFHS-3, Nutrition In India) that could be referred while compiling the report.

Dr M S Tara, Regional Director (Bangalore), National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) at the end of workshop expressed that all the inputs given by the group members will be considered for making of the report. All the vital points given by Akshaya Patra, NGO partner of Mid-Day Meal Scheme in many parts of Karnataka, were taken into consideration.

The Charity in Karnataka, Akshaya Patra feels honoured by this opportunity to participate with the senior members such as G Kumar Naik, Managing Director, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited; S V Ranganath, Former Chief Secretary, and Shankarlinge Gowda, Former Principal Secretary, GoK.  For Akshaya Patra, the NGO that feed hungry children, this was a great learning experience with an opportunity to be part of discussions related to Human Development.