Thursday 10 March 2022
Another Feather In The Cap - Mangalagiri Kitchen
Summary: With the objective to benefit more and
more children with the Mid-Day Meal Programme, The Akshaya Patra Foundation has
been relentlessly striving to expand its reach. One if the recent developments
is the inauguration of the Mangalagiri Kitchen in Andhra Pradesh. It is an
addition to the existing eight kitchens in the state.
Body of content: The Akshaya Patra Foundation has been implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in India, now known as PM POSHAN Scheme, since 2000. The Foundation is cognisant that in its mission to feed the children, it has to consistently maintain high standards with regards to quality of meals, hygiene, cleanliness, and punctuality in preparing and delivering meals, each day. Hence, during the past 21 years, Akshaya Patra has been strategically and sustainably expanding its reach to provide regular nutritious school meals to children.
Overview of Akshaya Patra’s service
Akshaya Patra began serving children in the year 2000. As a first step,
the Foundation provided nutritious meals to 1,500 children in five government
schools in Bengaluru. Soon, it realised the pronounced need of these meals.
Gradually, Akshaya Patra started spreading its wings beyond Bengaluru and
Karnataka. Presently, the Foundation has a beneficiary base of 18,00,907 children
studying in 19,039 government schools and government-aided schools. It runs
both centralised and decentralised kitchens to feed the children in urban,
semi-urban, and remote areas. Currently, Akshaya Patra kitchens are located in
60 locations across 14 States and 2 Union Territories.
About Mangalagiri
Kitchen
·
Launch & supporters: This is one
of the recently launched centralised kitchens of Akshaya Patra. Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was the Chief
Guest for the occasion and inaugurated the kitchen. Special guests at the event were Honourable Minister of Education, Shri
Audimulapu Suresh; Honourable Minister of Finance & Planning, Shri Buggana
Rajendranath Reddy; Honourable Chairman – TTD, Shri Y.V. Subba Reddy; Honourable
Member of Parliament, Shri Lavu Srikrishna Devarayulu (MP - Rajya Sabha), and Honourable
MLA, Shri Alla Rama Krishna Reddy. The event was presided by Shri Satya Gaura
Chandra Dasa in the presence of Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman - Akshaya
Patra.
This kitchen
is supported by the Airports Authority of India. Shri R. Madhavan, Regional
Executive Director, and Shri P.V. Rao Directors - Airports Authority of India, were
the guests of honour at the event. The patron guest for the event was Shri
Sanjeev Kumar, IAS., Chairman - Airports Authority of India. Shri Buditha Rajasekhar,
IAS., PS, Department of School Education AP, Shri Vivek Yadav, IAS., Collector
& District Magistrate - Guntur, and Shri Arif Hafeez, IPS were the special
invitees for the event.
·
About the kitchen: This state-of-the-art centralised kitchen will
provide nutritious school meals and impact the lives of more than 50,000
children. This will further the progress of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in
India. The
kitchen is built on latest technology with gravitational technology as one of the
main highlights. It has a Condensed Recovery System, Duracrete flooring, ETP for
waste management, and fuel saving boiler as an eco-friendly measure.
·
Meal menu
& delivery: Akshaya
Patra will be serving as per the Jagananna Gorumudda Scheme so that it
continues to adhere to the dietary norms while serving the local palate. A
fleet of 15 vehicles will deliver the food to schools in insulated containers
which can maintain the temperature of food for more than 6 hours.
Support Akshaya Patra’s endeavour
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme in India has been a potential intervention in the education sector. It has
positively impacted the health, academic, and overall development of children.
The meal programme has resulted in increased enrolment rate, attendance, and
performance of the children. Help Akshaya Patra to continue to feed the children and create nourished and nurtured generations. You
can donate directly, conduct fundraising campaigns, or join as a CSR partner.
You can also spread the word in your social network. In conclusion, donate to NGO, nourish children and save tax while you engage in
doing good.
Author Profile:
The Akshaya Patra
Foundation is an Indian NGO implementing the Mid-Day Meal Programme along with
other relief feeding initiatives. Your support to Akshaya Patra can directly
impacts lakhs of children as well as needy people amid crisis situations across
India. Your donation towards Akshaya Patra will avail you tax exemption too.
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Monday 7 March 2022
Taking Care Of Pregnant Women With Shakti Kits
Summary: Aside from providing nutritious meals to school
children, The Akshaya Patra Foundation has also undertaken the initiative to
nourish pregnant women. They provide essential nutrient-rich food items and
masks for protection against COVID-19.
Body of
content: Pregnancy is a beautiful and sensitive phase in a woman’s life. It
requires personal attention and care, timely check-up with doctor, and adequate
nutrition to ensure a healthy pregnancy. While a section of the society is
privileged to meet these needs, there is another section that struggles for the
same. This section of women is deprived of even something as basic as
nutritious food that is critical during this phase. There are many NGOs who are
addressing the needs of women belonging to the socio-economically weaker
sections of the society. While fulfilling the role
of NGO in the mid-day meal sector, The Akshaya
Patra Foundation extended its service to benefit pregnant women too.
About The Akshaya Patra Foundation
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO in India implementing the Mid-Day Meal Programme
since 2000. During the past 21 years, it has been constantly expanding its
reach to benefit more and more school children. From providing school meals in
just Bangalore in 2000, it now nourishes children across 60 locations in 14
States and 2 Union Territories. The Foundation has a beneficiary base of
18,00,907 children studying in 19,039 government schools and government-aided
schools.
How is Akshaya Patra helping pregnant women?
Alongside fulfilling the role of NGO in nourishing school children, Akshaya
Patra has undertaken Anganwadi Feeding Programme too. Through this programme,
the Foundation aims to provide adequate and right nutrition during the
foundation years of growth and development. It has been nourishing 1,35,612
young children aged 3 to 6 years in 5,928 Anganwadi Centres in 10 locations of
four states namely Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The
Foundation is providing nutritious food to 3,660 pregnant women and lactating
mothers in 323 Anganwadi Centres in Jaipur.
What is Shakti Kit?
This programme is an initiative of The
Akshaya Patra Foundation that is focussed to provide nutritional support topregnant women hailing from socio-economically weaker sections. As an initial
step, in order to improve nutritional status of pregnant women, Akshaya Patra
has partnered with Government of Karnataka. Under this partnership, Akshaya
Patra is currently providing Shakti Kits to 50,000 pregnant women in the state.
Each Shakti Kit contains:
·
Malt-based protein mix
·
Protein porridge mix
·
Dhatri Loha (Ayurvedic immunity builder)
·
Pulses, peanuts, and green moong
·
Turmeric powder
·
Double fortified salt
·
10 masks
Consumption of healthy, nutritious food
is vital during pregnancy. It not only impacts the woman, but also the
development of the child. Nutritious food also contributes to immunity which is
much-needed to protect against diseases and any potential health risks. It is observed
that consumption of balanced and nutrient-rich meals lowers the risk of
congenital diseases and nutrition deficiencies in the new born babies. Each Shakti Kit is thus packed with food items rich in
essential nutrients, so that expecting mothers have a healthy pregnancy and
welcome a healthy baby.
Your support is needed
As an NGO in India, The
Akshaya Patra Foundation is doing their bit to provide a foundation for a
healthy generation through mid-day meals, Anganwadi feeding, and nutrition kit
for expecting mothers. However, to continue these services, it requires your support.
You can instantly be a part of their mission by contributing an online
donation. You can also multiply your impact by conducting a fundraising
campaign to support Akshaya Patra.
The best part is, while
your contribution impacts and transforms lives of beneficiaries, it also
rewards you with tax exemption. Every time you donate ₹500 or above, you become
eligible to receive tax exemption under Section 80G of the Indian Income TaxAct. So, go ahead, do good, receive goodwill and tax exemption, and create a
better world!
Author Profile:
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian NGO implementing the
Mid-Day Meal Programme along with other relief feeding initiatives. Your
support to Akshaya Patra can directly impacts lakhs of children as well as
needy people amid crisis situations across India. Your donation towards Akshaya
Patra will avail you tax exemption too.
