Akshaya Patra provides midday meal to 1.8 million+ children across India

Midday meal is a provision made by the Government of India to provide cooked meals to school children studying in Government schools and Government-aided schools. This initiative is the largest school meal programme in the world.

To maximise the benefits of this programme, Government has partnered with NGOs to mobilise community support and reach children even at the grassroot level. One of the pioneer NGOs that stepped in as an implementing partner for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme is The Akshaya Patra Foundation. A non-profit organization (NPO) in India, Akshaya Patra has been providing freshly cooked, nutritious, and locally palatable meals to children for the past 19 years. Akshaya Patra is headquartered in Bengaluru with a PAN India reach.

Akshaya Patra was established in 2000 with the vision,
‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger’.

During the initial days, this children NGO provided meals to 1,500 children in five Government schools in Bengaluru. Witnessing the critical need of this meal in supporting schooling of children, Akshaya Patra gradually expanded its programme to other locations. In the meantime, the Supreme Court of India also read out a landmark mandate on 28 November 2001 stating, "We direct the State Governments/Union Territories to implement the Mid-Day Meal Scheme by providing every child in every Government and Government assisted Primary School with a prepared mid-day meal.” This mandate was a welcome progression for Akshaya Patra and this non-profit organization (NPO) in India partnered with the Government to implement the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

Today, Akshaya Patra takes care of daily school meals of
1.8 million+ children across India.

By operating in a public-private partnership model, which has also been recognised as one of the best replicable models, this children NGO expanded its operations from one location to 51 locations. Currently, it has its own kitchens and delivery logistics across 12 states and 2 Union Territories to prepare and deliver midday meals to schools. All its kitchens follow industry standard operating processes with utmost adherence to cleanliness and hygiene practices.

Midday meal is a great incentive for families belonging to challenging socio-economic backgrounds to send their children to school.

Over the years, it has been observed that the school meals open the gates of school for children who would have to otherwise work to earn a square meal. The midday meals have:

-         increased school enrolment

-         regularised attendance

-         decreased drop-out rate

-         improved health of children

-         boosted academic performance

-         supported continuity of schooling

Support this non-profit organization (NPO) in India to reach more children with nutritious school meals. Your support will uphold health, education, and dreams of millions of children across India.

Volunteer for an NGO in India

All of us are so entangled in our daily humdrums that we hardly have time to think beyond our calendars. Yet, there are a few amongst us who can be seen taking action to better the society. They are the volunteers – the agents of change. It is not that they have additional hours in their clock; rather they have the trait called ‘willingness’. The willingness to do something to improve a situation and not just have a conversation over a cup of tea. Be it an Indian NGO or any global NGO, all charitable organisations welcome volunteers with open arms. Even though funds are a critical aspect for an NGOs operation, volunteers play a big role in an NGOs lifecycle.

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time;
they just have the heart.” - Elizabeth Andrew.

What are the benefits of volunteering?

Volunteering is a unique example of how selfless service can help evolve our individual selves from within while transforming the world outside of us.

-          Benefits for the self: When you volunteer your time and skill with an NGO, you receive the fulfilment of bettering the society you are a part of. The inner satisfaction of being a support system for the society is immeasurable. And, the impact you create in the society lasts forever.

-          Benefits for the society: Your time, skill, and efforts potentially change the ecosystem of the society in the most desirable way. For instance, if you engage in volunteer opportunities with a children NGO, then you help several children belonging to challenging socio-economic backgrounds to receive their basic rights, education, health benefits and more. Basically, you transform their lives bit by bit to make it better.

Volunteer with Indian NGO

Why not begin your volunteering journey by joining an organisation in your neighbourhood? Yes, there are more than 3 million Indian NGOs working in various sectors and there is all possibility that one among them could be operating in your neighbourhood too. Or you could also choose an organisation to volunteer with depending on your interest such as child rights, child education, animal protection, water conservation and the like.

As an example, let’s look at The Akshaya Patra Foundation. This is a mid-day meal NGO of India serving school children with nutritious lunch on each school day. This Indian NGO has been in the service of children for the past 19 years. Akshaya Patra has its own kitchens across 51 locations of 12 States and 2 Union Territories to prepare the mid-day meals. Cognisant of the importance of supporters, Akshaya Patra provides a several volunteer opportunities wherein supporters can dedicate their time in the kitchen activities and in beneficiary schools; they can share their knowledge and help in expansion of the Foundation’s reach; they can be online ambassadors and spread the work of the NGO in their social network, and more such opportunities – all to benefit children for whom school meals play a very crucial role. So, choose an Indian NGO you most identify with and generously extend your support as a volunteer.

Because your support matters!

Donating to a non-governmental organization is one of the noblest ways to save tax

We are all aware of income tax and we are also aware that it is our fundamental duty to pay taxes on time every year. Taxes are applicable for all salaried and self-employed individuals earning above a certain income level. Additionally, businesses also need to declare their income and profit based on which the tax slab is decided for them. The taxes we pay are utilised by the government for developmental and security purposes such as constructing hospitals, schools, welfare centres, roads, maintenance of defence forces and the like. However, the Government has also made the provision of tax deductions for the welfare of the taxpayers.

Applicability of tax deduction

The Government of India has made a provision under the Income Tax Act that relaxes the taxable amount of those who have made investment for the welfare of the self or the society. For instance, with regards to welfare of the self, if you are paying for house rent or children education; or you have invested on housing loan or medical insurance, you can avail tax deductions on your taxable income. Similarly, with regards to welfare of the society, is you contribute donations to registered non-governmental organizations in India, you can avail tax benefits under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

Charity – the noblest way to save tax

Investing on personal progress is a must, but at the same time, we must also look beyond ourselves. As citizens, it is our responsibility to contribute towards the upliftment and development of the country. Hence, as a means to encourage people to get involved with charitable organisations, the Government has made the provision of tax exemption donation.

Funds and fundraising are an important aspect of an NGOs operations and your contribution supports non-governmental organisations in India to make progresses in their respective fields of work. This in turn brings about a desirable and sustainable change in the society.

For instance, if you relate to women empowerment, you can choose any of the NGOs working in this field. Similarly, if you strongly identify with health and education of children, you can support child-centric NGOs such as The Akshaya Patra Foundation that provides free school meals to more than 1.8 million children on each school day across 12 States and 2 Union Territories of India.

When you donate to registered non-governmental organisations in India, you may either get 100% or 50% exemption on the donated amount based on a pre-decided slab and criterions set by the Income Tax Act depending on the type of NGO and its cause. Your support to any charitable causes makes you a part of the solution for several critical issues obstructing the progress of the society. Your choice of NGO could be any but your support potentially transforms the entire ecosystem of the society for the better along with making you eligible for tax exemption donation.

In conclusion, as you invest for yourself, take a moment to act for the society too of which you are an integral part!

Disclaimer: Each of the above-mentioned tax exemption plans/investments has its own terms and conditions. Hence, it is advised to understand the respective tax exemption clauses prior to making an investment or a claim.