Every year on 26th January, India gears up to celebrate its Republic Day with zeal and honour to mark its evolution since 1950. Its people wait to watch the regal parade of their military and cultural wealth on screens, telecasted from Rajpath in New Delhi.
It is a day when people are no more the ones with several cultural differences but one with the overwhelming emotion of being an INDIAN!
But amidst the patriotic fervour and Republic Day festivities, there also exist the teething challenges lingering as cracks in the path of the country’s progress. One such challenge is food insecurity and the resulting lack of productivity.
Unless everyone addresses this challenge collectively, there will never be a truly republic and self-reliant India.
Several Government and Non-Government organisations (NGOs) have been working for decades to address the problem. But, India needs all hands on deck to speed up the progress in achieving zero hunger sooner.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one of the NGOs that is globally recognised for implementing the Indian Government’s Mid-Day Meal Programme (now called the PM Poshan Abhiyaan). In 2000, it started by feeding 1,500 children in five Government schools in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Today, it nourishes over 20,10,516 (2 million) children in 22,367 schools across 14 states and 2 union territories.
The NGO in India has gathered support not just from donors across the world but also from its own employees who enjoy working for a noble cause. Some of their children are Akshaya Patra beneficiaries themselves who receive nutritious and delicious meals cooked and delivered by their delighted parents.
Read on to know what the NGO’s employees have to say.
Voice of Akshaya Patra
The Indian Government continues to roll out welfare initiatives for people from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds like the Food for Work Programme, National Food Security Mission, National Nutrition Mission (NNM) and PM Poshan Abhiyaan.
Even NGOs in India have not fallen behind in starting programmes of their own to strengthen food security in the country. But only public participation can ensure their implementation, effectiveness and reach in remote corners of the country.
For instance, Akshaya Patra recently launched Breakfast Feeding Programme in addition to feeding mid-day meals in Government schools and signed an MOU to add millet to the menu to boost the nutrition that the beneficiaries receive. These programmes aim to not only empower future generations of India but also provide employment to local communities by boosting the production of locally-grown raw materials.
Your role in the inclusive progress of India
Understandably, busy lives make it hard to contribute to a social cause. But the 21st-century internet revolution has made doing charity easier through online contributions.
On websites of NGOs like Akshaya Patra, you will see a range of programmes supporting different socioeconomically challenged communities such as Government school children, homeless mothers, nursing mothers (under the Anganwadi Feeding Programme) and more.
Under the PM Poshan Abhiyaan (backed by the Central Government), a donation of ₹2500 can give a Government school student breakfast and lunch for the entire year. Under Feed the Homeless Mothers Programme, each meal for a homeless mother is priced at a nominal amount of ₹25.
You can click on any of the programmes to know the details and proceed with making a donation in a few seconds. Alternatively, you can also fundraise and receive a certificate of proof.
The Indian Government has also made a provision to avail Income Tax exemptions when you make charitable donations to registered organisations under Section 80G and Section 80GGA of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Akshaya Patra is one such registered NGO under Section 12A (a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. All online contributions to Akshaya Patra over ₹500 are eligible for a 50% Income Tax exemption and contributors will receive a tax exemption certificate as proof.
Donate this Republic Day & save tax!
This Republic Day, become the catalyst of change so that our future generations do not face food insecurity. Associate with a humanitarian cause and help feed undernourished people so we can march towards the mission of an empowered and self-reliant India very soon!