According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, around 14% of India’s population is undernourished.
Cut to 2021. These numbers would have further worsened after the onset of the pandemic. The pandemic struck Indians when the country had recorded the lowest economic growth. The slowing down of the economy that almost came to a standstill impacted the migrant communities. At this point, it was perceivable that unemployment was high.
Imagine the state of daily-wage workers who did not have a job to take care of their families, neither did they save enough for unforeseen circumstances.
Today, as many of us anxiously wait for our turn to get the vaccination slots, some people have a million things to think about. For example, should we stop eating lentils (because the prices have shot up)? should we cut back on buying other food items? etc. Many NGOs have come forward to help these people in need so that they can save their expenses for a future they have never seen. With their COVID relief service, these organisations feed the needy people, provide them with protective gear, help their children’s education, give oxygen capacitors, etc.
But the most important help you could provide to the needy in this hour is by giving them food. Most of them do not fear the virus, but they fear dying out of hunger in this pandemic.
How can you feed the needy people of India?
You can become a volunteer in one of the NGOs to serve needy people. Many non-profit organisations came forward to help people from low-income sections of society.
• Serve cooked meals
Cooked meals are served by many NGOs to ensure that nobody stays on a hungry stomach in this pandemic. This is a welcome initiative by people residing in marginalised communities. Simple meals like khichdi, roti and sabzi, rice and rasam. Members of a family line up in long queues for their share of meals. Meals are served two to three times a day by these NGOs.
• Grocery Kits
Grocery kits contain the necessary food items that help a family. With the food items provided in these kits, people can cook food that can feed their stomachs. These kits can help a family save on their earnings while these groceries and ration help in preparing meals. Mostly, the food items that come in these essential or grocery kit include rice, dal, oil, spices, salt, sugar and vegetables.
You can either be a part of an NGO that serves cooked meals or distribute grocery or essential kits to help needy people and their families. If not, you can be a part of an NGO that serves meals and distributed kits.
NGO responds with COVID Relief Service
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an organisation that feeds mid-day meals as its core service. Since the pandemic has gripped everyone in fear since the lockdown in March 2020, the Foundation began its COVID-19 Relief Service. Since the day of its service, the non-profit organisation has served a cumulative of 12.40-crore meals (as of 30th April 2021) with the support of online donations, the Government of India, State Governments and District Authorities. Extreme care is taken during the preparation of these nutritious meals and packing of grocery kits. Each meal is priced at a nominal price of ₹25 and grocery kits cost ₹825.
Children are visibly growing weaker in the absence of mid-day meals. To continue its service to feed children from Government and Government-aided schools in this pandemic, Akshaya Patra distributes Happiness Kits to its mid-day meal beneficiaries. These kits support the health, nutrition, hygiene, immunity and education of school-going children.
Donate online to feed the needy with Akshaya Patra’s meals. Be a part of the feeding initiatives because you never know when you will be of help to someone.