How education in villages can change India?

In many contexts, we must have heard that the real India resides in its villages. Statistically speaking, India has more than 6.3-lakh villages and 74% of the Indian population still live in villages (Census 2001). This makes it clear that India’s progress is directly related to the progress of its villages. And, talking about progress, education plays a crucial role in sustaining the development and progress of a society. And, that’s why The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO in India is striving to support education by providing school meals. In line with this, let’s see how education in villages can change India.

Impact of education in villages

Agriculture remains the main occupation in villages, along with several other occupations such as handicraft, animal rearing, fishing, pottery, and the like. Most of these occupations mirror the lineage of a particular family. While on one hand, it is a good thing that residents are able to safeguard their traditional practices generation after generation, on the other hand it raises the question, what about the education of their children? Due to lack of amenities and awareness, education has always been considered as a secondary priority in villages. However, in recent times, the efforts of government and NGOs are gradually bringing in a shift in perception.

Now, majority of villagers are striving to educate their children. They have understood that education can improve their lives in many ways:

• An educated person has a better understanding of new technologies;
• An educated person can introduce new technologies to improve productivity in their respective occupations;
• An educated person can improve the overall lifestyle of the family and also contribute to hygiene and cleanliness of their surrounding;
• An educated person has the power to gather support for the betterment of the village; and
• If shifting to an urban area, an educated person has an upper hand in getting a better job opportunity;

Akshaya Patra’s contribution to education in villages

Akshaya Patra is a mid-day meal NGO providing nutritious school meals to children in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas. It has a beneficiary base of more than 17.6-lakh children across 38 location in 12 states of India. The Foundation is aware that due to being economically deprived, many families introduce their children to the world of labour at an early age. This is one of the reasons along with unavailability of facilities, that keep children away from school. Thus, by providing food, Akshaya Patra incentivises parents to send their children to school. The advantages of Mid-Day Meal Scheme are, it:

• avoids classroom hunger;
• increases school enrolment;
• increases school attendance;
• improves socialisation among castes;
• addresses malnutrition; and
• empower women through employment.

To reach out to children in remote and rural areas, Akshaya Patra operates decentralised kitchens and these are run by women self-help groups of the village. These groups are assisted and supervised by Akshaya Patra’s operations team. This has not only increased enrolment and regularity of children but also given the women folk a regular source of income. Currently, Akshaya Patra is providing meals in two of the most remote areas: Baran in Rajasthan and Nayagarh in Odisha, nourishing a total of 32, 938 children in these two locations.

Support education in Indian villages

By supporting the cause of Akshaya Patra, you can change the lives of thousands of children residing in villages. This NGO in India will utilise every penny of your contribution towards providing wholesome meals to existing beneficiaries. The Foundation will also use your contribution to expand its operations to more remote areas so that each child in India is healthy and educated. Choose to donate for education in India. Be the source of creating a better India!

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