Food has the capacity to either make or break a person. For the body to fight against various infections, diseases or malnutrition, a well-balanced diet is of prime importance. The quality of food that a person consumes, determines how the quality of their life is.

Every individual must be educated about the importance of nutrition, hence, the government of India launched a campaign in 1982 to raise awareness and to encourage everyone to understand the importance of adopting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. National Nutrition Week is celebrated between 1st-7th September every year since then.

With the COVID pandemic wreaking havoc in people’s liveso, this year’s theme is “feeding smart right from start” with which the government aims to provide information on how adults and children alike, can benefit from a god diet, right from birth. You can either provide food for the hungry or make them aware of nutritional values present in different food items.

Nutritional values in Akshaya Patra’s food
Nutritional values of various dishes are very difficult to calculate. However, we can know the nutritional value of every single ingredient that goes into specific dishes. Akshaya Patra provides nutritious school meals to mid-day meal beneficiaries, freshly-cooked meals to people affected by the COVID pandemic and other low-income sections of India that need food assistance (construction-site workers, aged people, grave-diggers, sweepers and cleaners, auto rickshaw drivers, etc.).

What goes into Akshaya Patra’s food?
Whether meals are cooked for mid-day meal beneficiaries or people affected during the COVID pandemic, The Akshaya Patra Foundation follows strict hygiene and safety practices to prepare food to feed the needy people of India during the COVID crisis. All the kitchens that are equipped to prepare meals on a large scale implement food Safety Management Systems to handle, prepare and deliver food.

How can you support to make Zero Hunger possible?
You can support this NGO in India by making online donations through September (Hunger Action Month) and throughout the year. Today, there are lots of people who are not able to get food for their survival due to their economical situations.

Your contribution towards Akshaya Patra ensures no one goes hungry. This Hunger Action Month, let’s #FeedToDefeatHunger.

During the last 15 months, every aspect of our normal lives has changed. From how we shop, how we celebrate birthdays/anniversaries, how we conduct rituals to almost everything we do, our lives have seen a significant transformation.

India is embracing the guidelines of the new normal. Most of us are wondering what to do next and how to stay safe after the COVID-19 pandemic unlock, should remain indoors at all times or is it ok to give ourselves the liberty of socialising?

There is no right or wrong answer to these questions. However, we need to evaluate the consequences and choose what is the best decision to keep ourselves, our loved ones and the people around us safe. Everyone is facing one challenge or another; some scout for oxygen capacitors while others hunt for food. Daily-wage workers, labourers and migrants who rely on their wages and salaries may need some time to find suitable jobs for themselves.

For people who find it difficult to arrange for food, there are many NGOs working to make it available to them. As a part of their COVID relief service, these organisations either provide food or grocery kits to people in need.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such NGO in India that takes care of food requirements of marginalised communities and vulnerable sections of society. Since day one of the pandemic-inflicted nationwide lockdown, the organisation has been serving meals to people in need. Its COVID relief service started on 25th March 2020 and continues till date as there is a need to satiate hunger. As of 30th May 2021, a total of 136 million (13.6-crore) meals have been served in the form of cooked meals, grocery kits and happiness kits. People from various backgrounds have been benefitted from its service, including cleaners, migrants, housewives, children, pilgrims, factory workers, etc.

Click on the names below to read their stories.

Sudha

Keshav Hari Gosai

Anandi

Shyam Khushwah

Shaheen Mohammad

Arshad

Small businesses, artisan communities, and self-employed people have been the worst hit. With no job or money, they are unable to feed their stomach and their families. You can rescue them from being hit by hunger in this crisis. Donate online to support frontline workers, marginalised families, single parents, homeless mothers, aged people and others who are in dire need of food assistance. Support Akshaya Patra and help these people get back to their old lives as the unlocking phase begins.