The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is a free school lunch programme initiated by the Government of India. This school lunch programme is to be implemented in all Government schools across India. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme acts a supporting pillar for education schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan. In the socio-economic scenario of India, food plays an important role. Indeed education schemes have brought about awareness and positive changes in the society but it needs the extra backing of food. Financially backward families prefer their children to work rather than study because that will add an extra hand to earn. But the provision of a free meal at school influences the minds of the parents to send their children to school with the hope that their children will at least get one wholesome meal per day. This in turn also leads them to get educated.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian NGO implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme under the aegis of Central Government and State Governments. The Foundation started providing free school lunch in Bangalore, Karnataka way back in June 2000. Since then it has strategically expanded its reach to various states of India covering North, South, West and East. It started functioning as a NGO in Hyderabad since October 2008. Located in the state of Telangana, Akshaya Patra feeds 54,849 children across 454 Government schools. While primarily functioning as Mid-Day Meal Scheme NGO in Hyderabad, Akshaya Patra also provides food for children in Anganwadi centres. This NGO in Hyderabad operates the Centralised kitchen format for preparing the mid-day meals for more than 50,000 children across the location.
In continuing to sustain and further expand to newer locations, this NGO in Hyderabad does feel the need of supporters and donors apart from Government Subsidies and Grants. It has witnessed the positive changes that the Mid-Day Meal Scheme has brought to the lives of millions of underserved children. Thus, it makes the provision of easy and instant support system for the contributors in the form of online donation platform. When one chooses to donate online, he enjoys the comfort of time, place and occasion to make a contribution. The donate online platform of Akshaya Patra also gives a donor the choice to contribute to a particular location of his choice. Also, the donor becomes eligible for 100 % tax exemption for any contribution above Rs. 500.
With this NGO in Hyderabad, one can feed a child for an entire year by contributing just Rs. 750. This scheme is seen to have positively impacted enrolment and regular attendance. It has also brought down the drop-out rate significantly. Choose to donate online for the children who rightfully deserve food and education.
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