Raise the cricket fever to the next level by taking part in #TicketToCheer supported by ESPNcricinfo, foodpanda and freecharge! This initiative undertaken in aid of Akshaya Patra gives cricket fans an opportunity to buy a ‘ticket to cheer’ for their favourite team in the World Cup, and use their passion for cricket to support a child’s mid-day meals for an entire year.*

All it takes is four simple steps:

• Select your favourite team and match
• Choose the number of tickets, and contribute to the cause (Each ticket is valued at Rs. 750, enough to feed one Akshaya Patra beneficiary for an entire year)
• Receive your Ticket to Cheer for your selected team and match
• Share your personalised Ticket to Cheer on social media

#TicketToCheer is a fabulous chance for fans to come together to support their favourite teams and celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship on social media, and change the life of a child at the same time. In addition to this participants can also avail of a 100 per cent tax exemption on all donations above Rs. 500!

So log onto #TicketToCheer right now to support your team, and help feed a child for an entire year!

*The initiative provides an opportunity for fans to express their support for their favourite teams, and underserved children through social media. However it does not provide access related to the ongoing cricket world cup.

Sigma Research and Consulting Pvt Ltd, one of India’s leading survey companies, recently conducted an impact study on Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meal programme titled ‘Assessment of Mid-Day Meal Programme in 8 States’. The study aimed to determine the need, impact and continuance of this school feeding programme – by Akshaya Patra particularly, as well as in general.

The study analysed the programme across all three verticals of centralised and decentralised kitchens, and Anganwadi centers. The study was undertaken keeping in mind the four main objectives of Akshaya Patra’s programme which are: elimination of classroom hunger; bringing about social equity; providing adequate nutrition and health; increasing school enrolment, retention and attendance.

The study was conducted across 17 locations in 8 states of India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Chhattisgarh).

Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques, some of the results the study yielded were:

• All the states showed above 85% daily adequacy and availability of food. Gujarat was the highest with 99%
• Social equity was high with Odisha ranking highest at 99.2% and Assam, at the lowest, was not far behind with 89.9%
• The food served in all the states is extremely healthy and hygienic
• All the states showed impressively high attendance rates above 90%. Gujarat ranked highest with 99.6%

Analysing the data received, we were happy to see that the overall performance of every state was very high, with Gujarat coming out on top. It has also been heartening to see the positive impact that Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meal programme has had in fighting classroom hunger in India, eliminating social inequality and providing proper nutrition to children. This study has strongly reinforced the Foundation’s dedication to the cause and our desire for continual improvement in the future.

Read a summarised report of the impact study here.