How mid-day meal in schools helps to achieve educational objectives?
by Akshaya Patra NGO in India - Akshaya PatraThe 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 responsibility 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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Created on Aug 7th 2018 04:43. Viewed 623 times.