Mid-day meal helps to achieve educational objectives

THE
AKSHAYA
PATRA
FOUNDATION
HOW MID-DAY MEAL IN SCHOOLS HELPS TO
ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES?

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is an initiative of the Government of India primarily to end
classroom hunger and promote education. It is the world’s largest school mid-day meal
programme providing free food to children in government schools. This Scheme ensures that
freshly cooked nutritious lunch is served to children in government and government-aided
schools on each school day. The Scheme aims at:
countering classroom hunger;
increasing school enrolment;
increasing school attendance;
improving socialisation among castes;
addressing malnutrition; and
empowering women through employment.
To maximise the benefits of the Scheme and to bring in more and more children under its
ambit, the Government has encouraged the participation of NGOs. Thus, several NGOs have
partnered with the Government to facilitate the school mid-day meal programme. The Akshaya
Patra Foundation is one such NGO in India serving wholesome meals to children since the year
2000. Having undertaken the mid-day meal NGO role in India, Akshaya Patra is well-aware of its

esponsibility in providing freshly cooked, nutritious, hygienic, and tasty meals to children on
each school day. Heeding to this, the Foundation has ensured that standard operating
processes are followed in all its kitchens while also adhering to the recommended nutrition
levels as per the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Mid-day meal supports educational objectives
In most cases, children studying in government schools hail from the low socio-economic
background. Due to unfavourable conditions, most families choose work over education for
their children. In a grim situation like this, the school meal acts as a huge incentive for these
families. With the hope that their children will receive at least one proper meal for the day, the
parents send the children to school. Once the children are at school, they receive food and
education under the same roof.
School mid-day meal has proved to be a significant cornerstone in boosting education among
children. Several studies have been conducted to gauge the impact of the Mid-Day Meal
Scheme, the results of which have predominantly shown a positive trend. Focussing on the
impact of mid-day meal in meeting educational objectives, it has been observed that mid-day
meal has led to:

The above results are a testimony to focussed and concerted effort of the government and
NGOs. However, many more children are yet to be reached, yet to be nourished. For this, the
involvement of the corporate and the civil society is a must. It is needed that all of us contribute
to the mid-day meal programme to make it result-oriented and sustainable.
Thus, choose to donate for education in India and support schooling of children by providing
wholesome meals on each school day. Your contribution will be diligently utilised by Akshaya
Patra in nourishing and nurturing children across India. When you contribute towards school
meals of children, you directly take the country in the path of progress and growth. You
become an integral part of ensuring that every child receives the goodness of healthy meals
and richness of rightful education. So, be the reason for a lasting change by opting to donate for
education in India.
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