7th April of every year is celebrated as World Health Day to ensure good health of everybody around the world. Many NGOs work for the betterment of people and children living in challenging socio-economic conditions. Donations made towards The Akshaya Patra Foundation provides healthy and wholesome mid-day meals to children on all school days along with making you eligible for tax deduction.

Flashback to a few years before the year 1948
The whole world was concerned about vector-borne diseases spreading in large numbers. More than half the world’s population was at the risk of diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever that continued to impact the world’s poor population. In the year 1948, The World Health Organization (WHO) was formed.

Year: 1950; Geneva
A World Health Assembly was held for the first time in the history of mankind with 61 Nations who had agreed to sign the charter of WHO. The assembly decided that 7th April would be celebrated as World Health Day to commemorate the date in which the WHO constitution had officially come into force in 1948.

Back to 2020
Today, we may not have many fatalities due to vector-borne disease, they are under check since today’s generation is a little more conscious and aware about the importance of maintaining cleanliness, hygiene and health.Thanks to many NGOs in India and around the world that constantly work in either educating people, providing facilities to maintain hygiene or to provide meals that helps them stay healthy.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such non-profit organisation that works towards the cause ‘Food for Education’ of children who study in Government and Government-aided schools. It started feeding children in the year 2000 and has been relentlessly serving healthy mid-day meals by implementing the Mid-Day Meal Programme.On this World Health Day celebrated on 7th April 2020, let us pledge to donate to NGO’s like Akshaya Patra that works towards improving overall health of children who hail from socio-economically challenging backgrounds.

Benefits of your donation towards Akshaya Patra
Your contribution of ₹1100 ensures that a child is served with healthy and nutritious meals for an entire academic year. The benefits of making contributions towards Akshaya Patra are:
• Help in physical and cognitive development of children.
• Increase in number of children attending school.
• Helps in reducing the school drop-out rates.
• Improves nutritional levels in children consuming mid-day meals.
• Helps children in graduating from school and step towards their dreams.
• A sense of joy and satisfaction for having contributed towards the betterment of children
• Makes you eligible to receive tax deductions and your tax exempted deductions provide wholesome meals like roti, dal, rice, sambar and sabji and much more to school children.

Your donations significantly turn around lives of children for the better. So, on this World Health Day, how many lives will you change?

Support generously towards enhancing lives of children!

Neeraj, age eleven, lives with his parents and siblings in Badarpur, New Delhi. In the recent past, his father struggled to find a steady job and his family would often have to go without food. Neeraj recently talked to us at Akshaya Patra about his goals and objectives over a mid-day meal at his school. He said: “I want to be an army officer so I can help other people.” Neeraj’s life has changed dramatically since the NGO’s Mid-Day Meal Programme was implemented. Akshaya Patra not only satisfies his hunger but also encourages him to dream of a better future.

Just like Neeraj, there are thousands of children in Delhi who depend on Akshaya Patra’s school lunch for their nutritional needs. The NGO has been operating in the national capital since 1 January 2019 and serves mid-day meals to 40,000 students across 166 schools at present through its four kitchens in Delhi—Mohan Co-Op, Jahangirpuri, Gole Market and Badli.

Delhi’s Wonder Kitchens

To match up to the local palate of the region and ensure that children receive adequate and wholesome nutrition every school day, the NGO serves an assortment of dishes on a rotational basis. The menu comprises ajawain poori, aloo chana, aloo chole, rice, mixed dal, urad chana dal, rajma, mixed vegetable, aloo soya, plain kadi, jeera rice, dal with vegetables, aloo gajar matar, cookies, pickle and more.

These meals not only safeguard children’s nutrition but also encourage children to attend school regularly, complete their education and pursue their aspirations. When children follow their dreams, they make positive contributions to the nation.

According to UNICEF, nutrition is a fundamental component of human development and effective, extensive programming may both lessen the impact of undernutrition and deprivation on a national level and promote national development.

Here is a story of hope from one of Akshaya Patra’s beneficiary schools in Delhi.

The 11-year-old is the eldest of five siblings. His father is a tailor and the only earning member of the family. Naveen’s mother is a housewife and looks after his ailing grandmother. With financial challenges crossing their path almost every day, he says that Akshaya Patra’s meals are a glimmer of hope. They motivate him and his siblings to go to school regularly, focus in class, lend a hand at home and go the extra mile for their goals.

“A soldier’s life is demanding as they do not live with their families. It tests their strength and pushes them past their limits. They become stronger while enjoying a sense of purpose throughout their life. They protect without complaining. No life is insignificant to them. During natural disasters, they assist us selflessly and even put their lives on the line if the need arises. Thus, I believe that being a defence personnel is the finest choice for those who want to live a content life and serve their country. We can sleep peacefully today because our armed forces defend us at the border. That’s why, being a part of the Indian Army is an opportunity, not just a career option,” adds Naveen gleaming with pride.

Today, he is striving relentlessly towards his goals while also helping his parents with chores before and after school hours. The class 7 student is grateful for the NGO’s hot, nourishing and delicious meals he receives at school. He also fondly remembers the Happiness Kits that were distributed during the pandemic, with study material in them.

The Mid-day Meal Programme of Akshaya Patra in Delhi is a testimony of The Foundation’s dedication towards the implementation of the Centre’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan. Having been in operation for five years in the region, it is hardly surprising that seeing the NGO’s food delivery vehicles in the national capital brings smiles on the faces of many.

To multiply these smiles, donate to Akshaya Patra.