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How mid-day meal in India has improved the nutritional level?

Author: Akshaya Patra
by Akshaya Patra
Posted: Jul 25, 2018

India is among the fastest growing economies in the world. It is considered as a young nation with a high demographic dividend. Reportedly, the largest section of India’s population is under the age of 25 and 39% of its population being children (0-18 years). And, by 2020, India will embrace the reputation of having the world’s largest working population! But, are we really ready for this reputation in a sustainable way?

According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations’ estimate in ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2017" report, India is combatting certain criticalities surrounding children health.

Disheartening indeed, but the Government of India along with several NGOs are working towards improving the scenario by introducing and implementing various child-centric schemes and programmes. One such initiative is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. This Scheme makes the provision to provide school midday meal to children studying in Government and Government-aided schools across the country. By ensuring that children receive regular meals on school days the Scheme aims to address classroom hunger, school enrolment, attendance, malnutrition, and socialisation among children belonging to different castes. However, over the years, it has been observed that the mid-day meal has not only been effective in addressing its core objectives but has also contributed significantly to reduce the drop-out rate and child labour incidences. It has remarkably contributed to the health and growth of children too.

To multiply the impact of school midday meal, the government has also roped in the services of NGOs. One of the main pre-requisites to of a mid-day meal NGO role in India is to provide nutritious meals encompassing all vital nutrients required for proper growth of children. Since, for most children, the school meal is the only meal of the day, the NGOs need to ensure that children are served with wholesome meals regularly. Thus, mid-day meals comprise of items prepared from a variety of vegetables and pulses including rice and wheat-based items. Some NGOs also provide fruits and sweet dish as special items on certain days of the week.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such charitable foundation in India which has been working in partnership with the Central Government and State Governments for the past 17 years to provide nutritious meals to school children. Presently, this NGO is providing mid-day meals to more than 1.7 million children across 14,173 government schools in 36 locations across 12 states of India. The Foundation is aware that nutrition plays a vital role in the cognitive and physical development of children. Proper nutrition supports age-appropriate growth and development, improves immunity level, enhances the level of activeness and concentration, and facilitates socialisation among children.

In precis, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme is a potential intervention in improving health and education of children. So, for a sustainable growth of the country, we all need to pitch in and contribute to the efforts of the Government and the NGOs. Only then, we can proudly embrace the reputation of having the world’s largest working population!
About the Author

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Ngo in India providing food for 1.6 million school children across 12 States and 28 locations.

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Author: Akshaya Patra

Akshaya Patra

Member since: Jan 18, 2013
Published articles: 118

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