How Children in Telangana Benefit from Akshaya Patra

Telangana is a promising state showing steady progress in the economic front. However, the state faces a significant discrepancy in its literacy rate. On one hand, Hyderabad records an 83.2% literacy rate, and on the other hand, Jogulamba Gadwal district is struggling with 49.9% literacy rate. It has been reported that the state has an average of 66.54% literacy rate and 26 districts out of a total of 31 districts has literacy rates below the state average. Along with government’s efforts to improve the literacy rate, The Akshaya Patra Foundation is also adding in its efforts to bring children to school by providing healthy and tasty school lunch.

Akshaya Patra in Telangana

Akshaya Patra is an NGO in Telangana serving school midday meal to children in government schools of the state. Akshaya Patra has been operational in Telangana since 2008 and currently operates in four locations namely Hyderabad, Narsingi, Kothagudem, and Kandi. The NGO provides freshly cooked meals to 91,675 children studying in 805 government schools. The Foundation recently inaugurated its largest mechanised centralised kitchen in Kandi with state-of-the-art technology. This kitchen is also the largest amongst all the Akshaya Patra kitchens and the construction of it has been funded by the Infosys Foundation

The beneficiaries of this NGO in Telangana a variety of items as part of the school meal such as rice, lemon rice, sambar (a mixed vegetable and lentil curry), sundal (a South Indian dish, a dry legume-lentil preparation spiced, tempered, along with fresh coconut), pappu (a type of South Indian lentil curry), tomato pappu, vegetable biryani (a popular rice dish), and vegetable korma (an Indian dish made with vegetables and yogurt). 

Let us hear what the beneficiaries have to say of the mid-day meal in Telangana.

Monica Devi, a 15-year old girl studying in Zilla Parishad High School, who belongs to a broken family says, "I am very fond of the meal provided by Akshaya Patra and potato-brinjal curry is my all-time favourite."  "Just before lunch, my friends and I can’t stop thinking about the meal," she adds.

Read more about Monica at: This Akshaya Patra Beneficiary is a True Victor

Venu, a 5th standard student whose parents are daily wage earners says, "My favourite is the aloo biryani served on every Thursday." “My friends and I make sure we don’t miss school on Thursday because of the biryani,” adds Venu.

Read more about Venu at: Exploring more with a language

Soujanya, an 8th standard beneficiary is a class topper whose parents are daily-wage labourers. She says, “I’m lucky to have the Akshaya Patra meals. It is nutritious and tasty. It helps me concentrate in class” She further adds, "I am fond of the fruits and loves the biryani served." 

Read more about Soujanya at: Perfect with Numbers

Beyond school meals

Aside from providing school midday meal, Akshaya Patra is also involved in various socio-developmental initiatives to ensure the betterment of the beneficiaries and the society such as Anganwadi feeding programme, feeding expecting and lactating mothers, scholarship programme, life skills programme, and conducting awareness programmes.

Support meals of children

For many children in government schools, the mid-day meal is an important aspect of their daily lives. It takes just Rs. 1,150 to feed a child for a year! Additionally, a contribution towards a child’s meal is considered as tax deductible donations under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. This makes supporting a child’s meal a win-win for the beneficiary and yourself. Well, then step forward and benefit a child with food and education.