“Students can’t focus if their stomachs hurt because they are hungry”- Diane Gillen
Children from low income families study in government schools as education is provided free to them. Still a large percentage of children do not attend schools as they can’t concentrate with hungry stomachs. Most of the children accompany their parents to their work places for a meagre income which will enable them to fulfil their hunger. Thus these children end up as a drop-out putting their future at stake.
Acknowledging this burning issue, Akshaya Patra serves mid-day meals in partnership with The Government of India and various State Governments. The organisation feeds 1.5 million school children in 11,360 Government schools and Government-aided schools every day.
The need for an adequate meal
Without adequate food with proper nutritional values, a child cannot concentrate in class and memorize what he is taught. It leads to lower IQ and learning disabilities. The Akshaya Patra mid-day meals meet the nutritional requirements essential for the growth and development of a child. Hot, nutritious and hygienic meals are delivered with prescribed calories. Adequate supply of micro nutrients as iron, folic acid, zinc, fibre, essential fatty acids, calcium, carbohydrates, protein and vitamin A are supplemented through lunch servings with roti, rice khichdi, curd rice, vegetable pulao, mixed vegetable curry, sambar, dal, rasam etc. Nine varieties of dal, five varieties of pulses, soy chunks and different varieties of nutritious vegetables are added into the sambar. The rice and wheat served, meets adequate standards as prescribed by The Government of India. As the organisation understands that the mid-day meal is the only proper meal of the day for many of the children in a government school, unlimited food with high nutritional value are served.
The procedure to serve a nutritious meal
The vegetables are washed properly and stored in refrigerator to retain its nutritious value. A complete quality inspection is done to meet with Akshaya Patra’s Raw Material Specifications, adopted from the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 (FSSA). All the kitchen equipment are sanitised before usage. All the food items are transferred hot into the vessels untouched by hands.
Each meal is cooked and transported under hygienic conditions by customised delivery vans which transport mid-day meals to various schools at the right time. Meals are delivered in stainless steel containers which keeps food hot and fresh for long intervals. Every vehicle is steam-sterilised before the loading. The vehicles have a puffed body to reduce loss of temperature. The honeycomb structure inside, holds the vessels upright and keeps the freshness of the cooked meal intact. This is how every nutritious meal is served warm and fresh.
The lunch at school is a bonus that motivates children to stay at school. The mid-day meal programme aims at enhancing enrolment, level of concentration and meets nutritional necessities of the children. So hunger, which is an obstacle to health, education and a bright future are tackled by mid-day meals with high nutritious value.
It is our responsibility as part of the society to support NGO with donation. It’s our responsibility to help the cause of fighting malnutrition, hunger and promoting education. It’s our responsibility to feed the hungry children.
2 comments:
Education is important for every child. It helps not only children but also it will help the nation to build strongly. Through food children are getting educated means it's a great thing to hear... keep up the good work.
Thank you Mahesh for your thoughts. we will continue our service until every child gets food and education.
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