The mid-day meal program by Akshaya Patra

Global health threats have become one of the major concerning issues of the world. It results in a number of health hazards and ills like increasing mortality rates. The situation is alarming in our country as a number of children are malnourished and continue to be in a state of silent emergency in terms of health indicators. A survey highlighted that around 3,000 deaths are caused due to malnutrition and one child dies every minute of severe acute malnutrition in India. With a (Global Hunger Index) GHI score of (29.0), India has one of the highest estimates of malnourished children in the world. Akshaya Patra is one such non-profit organization which looks forward to eliminate the health related issues. The organization aims that ‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.’

Akshaya Patra strives to eradicate the issues of hunger and malnutrition among children by providing wholesome mid-day meals every school day. The mid-day meals are made as per the basic nutrition requirement of a child. They ensure the proper intake of fresh vegetables, dairy products, cereals, beans, legumes and oils which are essential for increasing nutritional levels. On an average, the organization provides mid day meals to around 1.4 million children every day. A tailored menu has been designed exclusively by Akshaya Patra to ensure the daily intake of nutrients and vitamins by the children. The menu is designed under the guidance of nutritionists and food experts to ensure food safety and a robust combination of essential nutrients.