Akshaya Patra The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a notfor-profit organization headquartered in Bengaluru. It is fighting against hunger and malnutrition in India, by implementing the MidDay Meal(MDM) Scheme in the government and government-aided schools
Area of Intervention MDM Implementation through Public-Private Partnership
Resources •
Employees act as implementing arm and encourage private-public partnerships
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Each meal cost a specific sum which is shared by the Government and nonprofit organization
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The government provides grains and cash subsidies
Key Geography Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh
Need for the initiative Problem •
Difficult for hungry children to study
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Malnutrition in children
Impact and Key Learning
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Socialisation among children of all castes absent
Achieved so far
Situation Before
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Today Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest (not-for-profit run) mid-day meal programme serving wholesome food to over 1.6 million children from 13,808 schools across 12 states in India
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Attendance has increased, classroom hunger has reduced, malnutrition has decreased, and socialisation among children of all castes has improved
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The recommended nutritional requirements are being fulfilled, and the food is healthy and hygienic
Unavailability of proper meals at schools
Intervention Overview Community participation program to implement Mid-Day Meal Scheme in government schools
Steps •
Raising of funds
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Arrangement of manpower for implementation and quality check
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Working with the government system to adapt the program design for scale up
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Encouraged the private-public partnerships that have been instrumental in ensuring success of the programme
Key Learning •
There is always room for improvement, and hence Akshaya Patra will continue to better processes and services in implementing the mid-day meal programme
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Classroom hunger can be significantly countered
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Social equity can be maintained almost universally
