The Indian Government’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme (now called the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan) is a transformative initiative that combines the power of education and nutrition to make a lasting impact on the lives of millions of children in India. Recognising the critical link between adequate nutrition and effective learning, the scheme aims to provide wholesome and nutritious meals to schoolchildren, thereby addressing the dual challenges of hunger and education. With a mission to ensure that no child is deprived of education due to hunger, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO in India, ensures effective implementation of the government scheme, emerging as a beacon of hope, nourishing minds and nurturing futures through the transformative power of mid-day meals.

The power of a mid-day meal

Improved attendance: Mid-day meals (MDM) ensure improved attendance and participation. Hunger often deters children from attending school regularly, hindering their educational progress. By offering meals at school, MDM incentivises students to attend classes regularly and ensures they have the energy to focus on their studies. When children are well-fed, they are more likely to engage actively in the learning process, leading to improved academic performance.

According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2018, the scheme increased overall enrolment by 5% and reduced dropouts by 20%. Furthermore, ASER data from 2019 indicates that 95% of enrolled children in government schools availed of the mid-day meal, contributing to improved attendance rates.

Enhanced well-being: By providing balanced meals, Akshaya Patra helps combat malnutrition and enhance the overall health of children. Healthy children are more resilient, have a lower risk of illness and are better equipped to participate actively in their education. By nourishing young minds, food for education programmes empower children to reach their full potential and cultivate a lifelong love for learning.

Reducing financial burden: By serving mid-day meals (MDM), Akshaya Patra alleviates the financial burden on families to provide meals for their children; this incentivises families to send their children to school every day. The improved health and educational outcomes of children lay the foundation for sustainable development, empowering communities and paving the way for a more inclusive society. By enabling them through meals for education, the NGO unlocks doors to endless opportunities.

Overcoming gender barriers: In many parts of India, girls face cultural and socio-economic barriers to accessing education. By providing nutritious meals at school, the PM POSHAN Scheme helps break down these barriers and encourages parents to send their daughters to school. The provision of meals not only incentivises regular attendance but also assures parents that their daughters will receive proper nourishment, addressing concerns about their well-being.

A study by the World Food Programme (WFP) found that every $1 invested in school meals can yield a return of $3-$10 in economic returns through increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs.

Providing mid-day meals has revolutionised the intersection of education and nutrition in India. Through their unwavering commitment, expansive reach and nutritious meal offerings, Akshaya Patra along with the support from its donors and the government, has transformed the lives of millions of children. By ensuring that children receive regular meals at school, the scheme not only addresses hunger but also paves the way for improved attendance, enhanced educational outcomes and the holistic development of young minds.

By:
Arya Nair
Mohit Sharma
Harshal Singh

Schools are about to reopen after summer vacation and it is time for the children to come back to school and learn. The empty corridors will soon be filled with hustle and bustle of the children. As for The Akshaya Patra Foundation, we will be resuming our journey of feeding children with hot, tasty and nutritious meals, which will improve their health and keep them focused on studies.

Going beyond the school feeding programme, this year we thought of doing something different to welcome children back to school. So, we initiated the ‘Clean Slate Carnival’, a pilot project for revamping the schools in collaboration with our corporate partners – Cargill, LSEG, Swiss Re and Happiest Minds. We shortlisted 18 government schools across Bengaluru for the project. The goal was to get these schools ready to welcome children for the new academic year by cleaning the entire premises and painting the blackboard and walls wherever necessary.

The project was completed in 10 days with the help of 500 volunteers who took up all the tasks with great energy and enthusiasm. The aspiration was to create an engaging and conducive environment to children when they come back to school and experience new joy and contentment.

Even our CEO, Shridhar Venkat, took time from his busy schedule and came forward to volunteer for this noble deed by joining one of the teams in revamping the school. Speaking about the project, he said, “Akshaya Patra has always undertaken initiatives for the betterment of the society, especially children. The ‘Clean Slate Carnival’ is one such initiative which focuses on students. The aim was to welcome children back to the schools after summer vacation and provide them a clean environment for studying. Already eager to return to school after the summer break, we knew they would be happy to see newly painted blackboards, clean benches, etc. We are confident that these factors will add to their excitement and enthusiasm for the new academic year. I want to thank our corporate partners for supporting this initiative through their active participation.”

Our corporate volunteers were immensely happy to be a part of the initiative. Pralayanath, one of the volunteers from LESG’s team, said that, “We have been partners with Akshaya Patra for various relief programmes and are aware about their dedication to provide school children with mid-day meal (MDM) on a day-to-day basis. The ‘Clean Slate Carnival is a new approach they have taken towards the betterment of the students and society. We are glad to be a part of it. It was indeed an amazing experience and we are looking forward to partnering with them for other such initiatives in the future.”

Besides welcoming children back to school, the Clean Slate Carnival was aimed at providing our corporate volunteers an avenue to do their bit to put a smile of children’s face. We can proudly say that this was indeed a successful step. We hope to expand this project in Akshaya Patra beneficiary schools across India.