Role of NGOs in child welfare

 

Good nutrition helps us survive and thrive. Well-nourished children, grow, learn, develop, play, participate and become healthy adults giving birth to a healthy next-generation. Malnutrition takes away the best of their capabilities, leaving them frail and with no energy due to underlying deficiencies. To bring them out of malnourishment, the Governments of various countries made several provisions for the betterment of the health of individuals at different stages of life.

 

The power of NGOs

When the Government takes to solving an issue, many non-governmental organisations come forward to join hands with them. They are the bridge between the beneficiaries and the government. Many non-profit organisations in India have shown interest to improve the health of people. The role of NGOs in India is not restricted towards the development of certain people of society, it also ranges to cleanliness, sustenance, animal welfare, protection of biodiversity, etc. Some take the role of supporting children’s health and education, while some other NGOs take care of the health of the elderly or the development of expecting mothers and her child.

 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one NGO in India that is an implementing partner of the Government of India for the Mid-Day Meal Programme. It plays a vital role in nourishing school children whose parents cannot afford wholesome meals for them. Apart from the midday meal scheme, it has taken up feeding initiatives:

·         Anganwadi feeding

·         Feeding to provide disaster relief

·         Feeding expecting mothers

·         Feeding in old-age homes

To ensure that children receive healthy food right from birth, the Foundation has undertaken Anganwadi feedings as one of its feeding initiatives.

 

Role of NGO in India to nourish pregnant women

During the first six years of life, children attain several developmental milestones which becomes the foundation for learning and development in the future. A healthy mother gives birth to a healthy child which then grows up to become a healthy and responsible citizen who gives birth to healthy children. It is a circle of life and is one major reason why it is important to feed a child with healthy food at a very young age.

 

Akshaya Patra’s Anganwadi reach:

Targets children from 3 to 6 years and pregnant and lactating mothers.

 

 

Role of NGO in India to implement the midday meal scheme

In 2020, 45.4 million children under 5 years old were affected by wasting. To improve the nutritional status of such children, Akshaya Patra became an implementing partner in 2000, and started feeding where it was headquartered, in Bengaluru. For the last 21 years, the Foundation continuously prepares locally palatable meals with nutritional specification laid out by the Supreme Court of India.

 

Your role in supporting to feed a child

Children are the ones who decide the progression of a country in the future. India’s progress lies in the hands of young children who have big dreams to achieve. Make a donation for children to realise their dream and bring them to life.

 

Children aspire to be famous personalities when they grow to become adults. Helping them realise their dream, is in our hands. Mid-day meals become a strong incentive for parents who cannot afford to send their children to school so that they get one healthy meal a day.

 

With Akshaya Patra, you can support children’s health and their education as well because the organisation believes that “No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.”

 

As its name stands, Akshaya Patra provides unlimited food for education of children studying in government and government-aided schools. If you donate today, you can help a child grow into a healthy adult who will grow up to achieve more in life and become a responsible citizen too.

If you know about a child who has benefitted from receiving midday meals every day and has grown to become a responsible adult, let us know by commenting in the section below.