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.
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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