Indian NGOs changing the narrative of hunger

Education takes a back seat when a child's basic needs are not met because no child can study when they are hungry. In 2001, the Supreme Court of India mandated that all students attending government and government-aided schools get mid-day meals every day.

To implement this, the Government of India runs the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (previously known as the Mid-Day Meal Programme). This scheme provides nutritious school meals to children every day that motivates parents to send them to school more frequently.

By sponsoring children’s wholesome mid-day meals, you are supporting their nutritional needs, helping them attend school regularly and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) of Zero Hunger and Quality Education.

Given their capacity and accessibility to those with limited opportunities, several Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a significant role in the fight against hunger and work towards the two SDGs.

A few NGOs that work in this regard are:

The Akshaya Patra Foundation
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It strives to address classroom hunger by implementing the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan in government and government-aided schools. Alongside, the NGO also aims at countering malnutrition and supporting the right to education of children from challenging socio-economic backgrounds. The Foundation currently serves wholesome school lunch to over 2 million children in 22,367 schools across 15 states and 2 union territories of India.

Feeding India
Feeding India is an NGO working to alleviate hunger and reduce malnutrition in India. The NGO offers freshly cooked food and raw grains to marginalised populations. By giving beneficiaries daily meals, Feeding India collaborates with local non-profit partners fighting against child and maternal malnutrition and education.

Action Against Hunger India
Action Against Hunger India is an NGO that strives to prioritise the fight against acute malnutrition and save the lives of children. Additionally, the NGO also provides communities with access to safe water. The organisation believes that with strong political will, the world can be free of child deaths from acute malnutrition and this can be achieved within a generation.

Fight Hunger Foundation
Fight Hunger Foundation strives to stop acute malnutrition in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan among disadvantaged children. The Foundation, which was established in 2012, begins by locating children who are chronically undernourished. To ensure inpatient and outpatient care, the Foundation then works with the local community and healthcare providers. They run initiatives to raise awareness about nutrition and hygiene and teach the medical staff at the neighbourhood hospitals how to treat malnutrition and keep track of patients. The NGO uses a comprehensive strategy to help communities fight hunger by providing access to diversely nutrient-dense, locally affordable food.

No Child Hungry
No Hungry Child was started with the goal of feeding nutritious meals to children. In addition to distributing meals, they also extend monetary help to other officially recognised NGOs so that they can prepare and serve free meals to the underprivileged. The NGO places a high priority on hygiene and makes sure that the kitchens, cooking staff, dining areas, and the children themselves adhere to stringent cleaning procedures.

Embracing The World
Embracing the World aims to reduce poverty. They work to meet all five basic needs of a person—food, shelter, healthcare, education and a means of subsistence—"whenever and wherever possible." With the support of the founder Mata Amritanandamayi Devi's ashrams and regional centres, the programme provides food for 10 million people annually in India. Following the 2004 tsunami, they gave 185 tonnes of rice and nearly six million complimentary meals to the survivors in India.

Despite multiple efforts, millions in India continue to suffer from malnutrition and hunger which is a reminder of the existing economic inequality that denies their access to basic sustenance. Since poverty and hunger are inextricably linked, the world cannot end hunger unless we increase awareness of the issue and work together to advance marginalised groups.

When you support NGOs, you support the food and education of government school students. Contribute today to support children's aspirations while you get a tax exemption of 50%!