In the second of this five part series, R Madan Chief Projects Officer of The Akshaya Patra Foundation describes his first impression on arriving at Nepal to facilitate the setup of the Earthquake Relief Centralised Kitchen. Read the first part of the series here.

What was your first impression on reaching the site?

When I reached Nepal I saw quite a few building that were intact but as we moved in towards the towns, we began to see the devastation caused by the earthquake. Bhaktapur which is a historical city at the heart of Nepal, where we set up the kitchen, was completely devastated.

When I reached the camp I realised that unlike in other places the people from the camps were not just the financially disadvantaged, but people from different social classes who lost everything due to the earthquake. Victims were forced to leave their places and everyone went to Kathmandu under the assumption that all relief was there. They were right because relief operations could not function in other areas.

There was a lot of stress and strain for the people, and emotions were high. We could see that in their eyes.

Part III on 22 September…

“I want to give something back to society. So I have decided that when I become a teacher, I will help educate the poor,” says Yashoda from Bengaluru.

“I don’t want to see people hungry, so I have decided that when I grow up I will serve the needy,” says Runiguru from Puri.

“I want to become a teacher when I grow up and ensure all the children in my village are educated,” says Ashwini from Bhilai.

“I feel I am indebted to my country and I would like to serve my nation as an army officer,” says Darshan from Bengaluru.

These are the dreams of just a few of Akshaya Patra’s young beneficiaries in India.

These noble aspirations exemplify the important role the Mid-Day Meal Programme plays in effecting social change. By bringing underserved children to school with the promise of easing their hunger, the Mid-Day Meal Programme also introduces them to a platform where they can explore their competencies, aspirations and values.

Being products of an unequal society themselves the children understand the struggles facing millions of families across India and frequently express a desire to pay it forward by working for the benefit of society.

By nurturing the dreams of thousands of children like these we will be able to see a remarkable change in almost every facet of Indian society and economy, in just a generation or two.

And it all starts with every one of us helping to provide a daily, nutritious mid-day meal.