Though unemployed, a number of teenagers have a good amount of money at their disposal. With Video games, chocolates, branded sneakers and other a million things available to spend it on, their money soon finds its way out of their pockets. However for 15-year-old Maithreya Sitaraman the case is different. A 10th grade student in Bangalore International School, Maithreya collects his pocket money and contributes it voluntarily to the Akshaya Patra Foundation, the world’s largest NGO-run school mid day meal programme. Over the past three years he has donated close to Rs.50, 000, which has helped the foundation increase its beneficiary base.
“There is nothing unusual about what it. All I do is accumulate money given by my grand parents and other relatives and give it to feed lunch in schools,” he says.
When asked why he chose to do so, Maithreya explains that he was astounded by the fact that it takes just a little more than Rs.500 to feed a child for a whole year. He heard his parents talk about this in the living room.
Maithreya’s volunteering act doesn’t stop at donating money. He has taken it a step further. During his vacations, he has done a comprehensive research and submitted a report on identifying suitable locations to fight malnutrition so that Akshaya Patra can choose to function in an area where there can be greatest impact.
“With the help of this report, Akshaya Patra can expand their operations to Maharashtra, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh…” he says while explaining the proposal.
At an age where video games, football and television sitcoms are supposed to be all the craze, Maithreya thoughtfulness has made a truly meaningful impact on society. And he’s given a whole new meaning to pocket money.
