Showing posts with label NGO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NGO. Show all posts

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Reducing Child Malnutrition with healthy meals

Malnourishment is a silent killer that does not spare even the lives of little children. It is one of the major causes of death of children under the age of five.

Malnutrition is the cause of death of close to half the children in Asia and Africa below five years.

Insufficient nutrition increases susceptibility to various infections and leads to delayed recovery. Three important factors that estimate malnourishment are stunting (low height with respect to age), wasting (low weight for height) and underweight (low weight for age).



Malnourishment in childhood reduces the quality of adulthood

The first 1000 days of a child’s life decide if the child is more likely to be healthy or suffer from malnutrition. This means to say that, poor nutrition of a mother during her pregnancy could lead to a stunted childhood. These stunted children tend to be shorter and weaker. They often have impaired mental development and also tend to perform low in school making them more likely to take up low-payment jobs. Hence, they are unable to provide for their children.

Thus it is imperative to work towards nourishing the present generation of children so that they can contribute directly to the health of the next one. 

According to the World Bank, close to 1/3rd of stunted children (below 5 years), live in India.

PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (earlier known as the MidDay Meal Scheme) is one intervention that could reduce these numbers drastically.

           

Let us take the example of person ‘X’ from a low-income family. He is a daily-wage worker whose salary or savings is not enough to take care of his wife and children. To become a helping hand to the family’s financial situation, he sends his child to work so that he can get some more money for the family’s food. He does not give a choice to his child to choose.

 

Now, let’s think of another situation where ‘Y’ is a daily-wage worker who is struggling to make ends meet to feed his family of three (along with his wife and child). They are aware of the Government’s MDM scheme and send their child to a nearby Government school with the thought that at least the child will be able to enjoy one proper, wholesome meal once a day. By doing so, they are playing a major role in the child’s education too. These school meals become a reason for the child to attend school without missing even a single day.

 

This is the power of school meals.

Midday meals (MDM) served as a part of this programme not only give an incentive for parents to send their children to school but also become a reason for children to get educated for the long term.

Providing nutrition; food for children

Mid-day meals become a source of nutrition in children. They help in their physical and cognitive development. How?

Here’s how:

  •         School meals take care of all the essential nutritional requirements of a child. It helps the child develop in a healthy manner. These meals provided as a part of the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, take care of carbohydrates, essential fats, proteins, fortified salt, etc.
  •         Meals nourish children inside-out, providing them with the right energy to expend it by participating in various sports and co-curricular activities. A well-nourished child can play well when compared to a malnourished child.
  •         It reduces risk the of diseases providing good immunity. Meals prevent diseases like anaemia, partial blindness and give them the strength to fight common diseases like cold, flu, etc.
  •         Free school meals give them access to education. When children start coming to school on a regular basis, they also get tuned to receiving education on a daily basis.

NGOs play a major role in the implementation the of provision of mid-day meals. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such organisation that helps children from low-income sections gain the above benefits. It has been serving school meals since 2000 and has grown from feeding 1,500 children to close to 2 million children every day.

Donate online to such NGOs that play an important role to nourish children. You never know how your help could transform the lives of either children or their families or a community on the whole.

Extend your support in whichever way possible. Because no support is small help, it has the potential to change lives.

Thursday, 22 September 2022

Feed people in Hunger Action Month I Akshaya Patra

 


This Hunger Action Month, use this opportunity to take a firm stand to make Zero Hunger possible with Akshaya Patra. Support to fight all forms of hunger by providing nutritious meals with your contribution. 

Feed people in Hunger Action Month


Thursday, 14 July 2022

Supporting a Cause Is Always the Right Choice

 


The bell rang after a few hours of classes and the children joyfully rushed out, excited to have the best time of their day – lunchtime. The corridors were filled with the sounds of their chatter and laughter. That was the moment I realized….

…true joy is when you are the reason that someone else is happy.

 

My association with Akshaya Patra has only been for months. But ever since my first day with the Foundation, I have felt less anxious every day. 

Working for the benefit of those from low socio-economic backgrounds seems to align with the ultimate purpose of any human life. Seeing the smiling faces of children relishing their mid-day meals as an outcome of my work fills me with a sense of accomplishment that I had not experienced anywhere else.  

Gone are the days when people could support underprivileged communities only by being on the ground. Today, people can contribute towards a social cause even with their busy schedules through online donations!

Happiness beyond material success

Everyone seeks happiness. And often, even a hoard of material wealth does not seem to provide the contentment we seek. From my experience, it was clear that true bliss lays in the act of giving.

As Horace Jackson Brown Jr., an American author, said, “The happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”

It is as simple as sharing your small successes with underprivileged individuals. And you can do so in multiple ways. These include:

  • Distributing clothes, books and stationery
  • Donating money
  • Funding their ration
  • Sponsoring children’s education 

Clothes, books and stationery can benefit the underprivileged for a short term. But supporting financially challenged children’s education and school meals can fight the root cause of their distress – illiteracy and malnourishment. 

Free education is incomplete without the proper nutrition that aids effective learning. 

Although education for children ensures that poverty doesn’t persist beyond the current generation, nutritious food fuels the physical and mental strength of children to efficiently learn, participate in events outside of school and pave a path for their growth in fields of their choice.

Food will help children fight both diseases and illiteracy that hinder their long-term progress. As a result, sponsoring school meals for children of government schools will eventually enable marginalized communities to become independent, progress locally and overcome their current limitations. 

Reverse the cons

When you donate to feed the children, you not only support them but also their parents since it assures them that their little ones are getting essential nutrients and that they will lead better lives in the future.

Also, when children eat together in school, it improves socialization among castes and also empowers women through employment in kitchens.

Funding children’s mid-day meal programme at schools will ensure lasting changes, a sustainable future and equal rights for all. Furthermore, when children receive the generosity of others, they will also learn to work for the betterment of people around them.

Hence, today many NGOs have come forward to feed children and enhance the benefits of education.

Additionally, the pandemic had forced children to stay behind doors, and those without access to digital education experienced further difficulties in retaining and practising concepts taught at school before the lockdown.

Which is precisely why they need our support, NOW MORE THAN EVER.

The Mid-day meal Programme saves the day

You can aid the complete development of school children by supporting us and our various causes through online donations. Your support to Akshaya Patra will ensure the nourishment of children, pregnant women and nursing mothers to eliminate malnutrition at its early stages.

We are an NGO in India whose mission and vision revolve around an optimistic dream that no child should ever be deprived of education or healthy growth due to a lack of food. The seeds of the thought of feeding children came from a visual outside a window where children fought with stray dogs for scraps of food.

We have always believed that there is no future without educated children and thus, children’s place should be inside classrooms – learning, participating in discussions and planning for an inclusive future that benefits people from all socio-economic backgrounds.

Hence, since our inception in 2000, we have only grown in terms of quality and quantity. And currently, we provide school meals to over 1.8 million underprivileged children in India. With your kind donations, we not only feed them every day for an entire academic year but also maintain strict hygiene standards during the cooking process.

So, let’s join hands to nourish children and their priceless dreams. Extend your support to Akshaya Patra for a bright future of India’s youth and underserved communities.

Monday, 27 June 2022

Education takes children a step closer to empowerment

 




Education is empowering.

It is a force that creates knowledge, builds personalities and confidence while also making way for new opportunities.

Getting education is also a doorway to a better life.

For some of us, going to school every day is a part of normal life, however, for children coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, education is a rare and precious gift.

All children deserve the precious gift of education and so, when you make a charity in India to an NGO, you change lives.

By empowering children, it is easy to engage them in further learning, encourage them to imagine, observe, form opinions and mould their behaviour accordingly.

Children are like an empty glass

Whatever you pour in it is what they are made up of. Hence, it is of utmost importance that we nourish them and build a lot of positivity around them to grow into empowered beings. Childhood is the stage of life that moulds their behaviour and character.

Empowered children are confident children.

Children develop a grasping power at a very young age. Getting them educated helps them in their psychosocial development. Gaining education helps them in the long term.

Like Nelson Mandela said, “Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future.”

Involve them in discussions

This is a very effective way of making children feel that they are important and are of value too. Whether they contribute to these discussions is secondary. For example – Sujita is a midday meal programme (MDM) beneficiary from Daman’s CPS Primary School in Silvassa. By speaking constantly with her Grandparents, she holds strong opinions herself. Thanks to the food and education that she receives at school.

Allow children to be their decision-makers

Children should be encouraged to take decisions at a very young age. However, the risks and consequences should be discussed with them as well. Continuing Sujita’s story, it was up to her to meet her parents. However, she carefully weighed her choices and decided that she never wanted to meet them anymore because they had abandoned her when she was a small child. This decision of hers made her confident that she can take care of herself.

Support them in every stage of life

When they make a decision that is in their favour, giving compliments or praises can make a huge difference in their behaviour and personality. Using positive words uplifts their spirits and brings good feelings about themselves. Adding further to Sujita’s story. Her grandparents stood by her when she decided that she did not want to meet her parents. They supported her decision so much that today, she does not feel the need to cry over their memories anymore.

Schools give children the education that could empower them. But not all of them are privileged to afford a decent education for their child.

Hence, the Government of India has initiated various programmes, schemes and scholarships that can support them.

To help children from all walks of life benefit from these schemes, many NGOs have joined hands with the Government. One such scheme is the Midday Meal Programme (MDM Scheme) which is now called the PM-POSHAN.

One such NGO is The Akshaya Patra Foundation allows you the opportunity to help children with your online donations. Sujita is one of the million beneficiaries of the Foundation who has benefitted from generous contributors who donated towards providing unlimited meals for education.

Beginning from a small number of feeding meals to 1,500 children in Karnataka, today, Akshaya Patra serves locally palatable and nutritious meals to 1.8 million children coming from challenging backgrounds. Support many such children with your onlinedonation towards this NGO in India.


Thursday, 6 January 2022

NGO battling hunger through midday meal - 1500/- for a child

 

Countering hunger among children through midday meals

Hunger, in general, limits people from attaining their full potential. When hunger dwells in children, it blocks them from reaching school and keeps them entangled in the poverty-hunger-illiteracy cycle.

Lack of resources and socio-economically challenging backgrounds makes hunger a part of life for millions of people. Among them are children, who are filled with dreams and aspirations, but are held back due to hunger pangs. Many NGOs across the world and in India are addressing the hunger situation in various ways. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one of the pioneer NGOs in India to address hunger among school-going children by implementing the Midday Meal Programme in a public private partnership model. This programme is a huge boon for children hailing from socio-economically challenging backgrounds. The meals not only satiate their hunger, but also supports education in a significant way.

It has been observed that parents send their children to school due to the assurance that the children will receive at least one full meal for the day. This opens the doorway to a whole new world for children to learn and grow. Impact studies reveal that regular intake of midday meals positively impacts health and learning abilities in school children. Hence, as a midday meal NGO in India, Akshaya Patra makes sure that they serve nutritious meals to all its beneficiaries on each school day. The Foundation has partnered with the Central Government of India and various State Governments to benefit more and more children across the country.

Akshaya Patra not only addresses hunger, but hidden hunger too!

Hidden hunger is caused due to deficiency of essential vitamins and micronutrients. It affects billions of people worldwide and is a cause of concern for national and international organisations. Unbalanced or poor diet that lacks nutrition is the main reason behind hidden hunger and can adversely affect children and adults. So, it’s not only about tackling hunger, but hidden hunger too. Often times, the diet of the marginalised sections is based on staple food such as rice, wheat, maize, potato, etc. that are easily available and affordable. Though these food items fill the stomach, they lack in vitamins and minerals. So, as an implementor of the Midday Meal Programme, Akshaya Patra takes utmost care to provide wholesome and nutrient-rich meals to school children.

 

To ensure every meal meets the nutritional requirement, Akshaya Patra adheres to the dietary norms of the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme. As a midday meal NGO in India, Akshaya Patra aims to ensure that every child consumes their daily school meals readily and receives adequate nutrition. So, the Foundation follows a locally palatable cyclic menu. The recipes of Akshaya Patra contains a variety of cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables, seasonal vegetables, fruits, curd, as well as milk-based sweets.

 

The efforts of Akshaya Patra in the battle against hunger gets mirrored in the myriad of ambitions and strong willpower of 18,00,907 children studying in 19,039 schools across 58 locations of 13 States and 1 Union Territory.

 

Join the battle against hunger and give children the opportunity they deserve. Support this NGO in India to bring more children under its umbrella of service. By contributing an online donation of ₹1500, you can instantly safeguard a child from classroom hunger for an entire year as well as support their health, education, and aspiration. In addition, you will also become an active contributor for the larger good of the world. When you uphold health and right to education of children, you directly help in attaining UN SDGs – Quality Education, Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-being, Decent Work & Economic Growth, and No Poverty.

 

You are just a click away from creating impact 
through Midday Meal Programme. Act now!

Monday, 20 December 2021

Meals that strengthens hope - Latest success stories of Akshaya Patra

 

meals of hope

Have you ever thought, how would it be to uphold hopes and give wings to lakhs of aspirations, every single day? Well, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO in India has been doing this for the past 21 years. In 2000, with the vision, “No child shall be deprived of education because of hunger’, Akshaya Patra began serving freshly prepared, nutritious school meals to children in government schools and government-aided schools. It is one of the pioneers in implementing the Midday Meal Programme in partnership with the Central Government and various State Governments.

Akshaya Patra has progressed from providing meals to 1,500 children at five schools in Bengaluru in 2000 to benefitting 18,00,907 children in 19,039 schools in 58 locations across 13 States and 1 Union Territory in 2021.

The Midday Meal Programme impacts lives of children in more ways than what’s visible on the surface and Akshaya Patra is well-aware of this impact. Hence, it strives each day to provide high-quality, nutritious meals to children across India. More often than not, this meal is the reason why parents send their children to school with the hope that children will receive at least one full meal a day. Their reason of sending children to school may not primarily be that for education, but it certainly opens up the path to education and children witness that their far-fetched dream of going to school has finally come true. This turn of events instil a sense of confidence in them that it is possible to achieve their dreams.

Stories of hope

Here’s sharing the hope stories of two Akshaya Patra beneficiaries from among 18,00,907 beneficiaries.

·         Inspired by “Gully Boy” a popular Bollywood movie mixed with his sheer interest in music, Rajesh, a student of Chandrabaghabai Education Society is all set to become the next sensation as a rap artist. He already writes his own lyrics and makes music out of anything; just by tapping his hand and pencil on the desk, Rajesh creates a variety of rhythms. And once he has found the right tune for the lyrics, he confidently raps it in front of the whole class with his friends as beatboxers. His fluency in English and Hindi is worth a mention. His determination to become a rap artist become even more pronounced as he shares, “I visit my neighbour’s house twice a week to watch shows of my favourite artists and I try to learn from their styles.” Rajesh is a true performer and have received appreciation of his principal and the entire school. He says, “No work is a task, if you do it wholeheartedly. And my heart beats to rap music. I want to be a rap artist. I know it is not all that easy and I don’t have a Bollywood background. But I will work very hard with all my heart and get to the top on my own.”

·         Not many of us can turn a flaw into our strength, but Roshni, a student from Higher Primary School, Odisha did it. A white patch on the face shadowed most of Roshni’s schooldays. She was nicknamed as patchy, white-patch etc. Roshni felt humiliated and every day became more and more traumatising. Gradually, she distanced herself from everyone, stopped eating food because of the fear that certain food may worsen the patch. One day, Roshni’s friend introduced her to the internet and that changed everything for her. She read about the patch on her face and understood that all along there was no reason to feel insecure about the patch or the food she ate. Instantly, she accepted the mark as her identity and decided to become a Cosmetic Surgeon. Alongside she also read up on the kind of food that is beneficial for her skin. While doing so, she browsed a little more to know about the NGO that serves daily lunch at her school, The Akshaya Patra Foundation. She was pleasantly surprised and happy to know that the Foundation ensured complete cleanliness while preparing the food and prioritised children’s safety at every step. Since then, she has never hesitated to eat her school meals. Roshni’s teachers were glad to witness the positive change in her. They support her morally and financially as an encouragement to achieve her dreams. Today, Roshni is a confident girl who is good at academics and participates in all co-curricular activities. She says, “I want to give confidence to people who are insecure about their looks. I want to become a Cosmetic Surgeon and be the best that Odisha has.”

Support Akshaya Patra to nurture more dreams

This NGO in India strives to make each day better, happier, and fulfilling for children. It aims to feed 50-lakh children by 2025. Join the mission and instantly make a difference in the lives of children by contributing online donation. Your one moment of generosity will change the lives of children for the better. Step in to give hope and nurture budding dreams because every bit of your support matters.

Friday, 17 December 2021

Akshaya Patra feeds meals to children in stainless steel plates

 

midday meal programme

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO that has the distinction of being the world's largest NGO-run school lunch programme, serving freshly cooked, nutritious mid-day meals to over 1.8 million children in 19,039 schools of 13 states & 1 union territory of India.

To ensure safety and hygiene for the sake of children, Stainless Steel Grade 304 is used in the kitchens. Meals are served on steel plates so that children can comfortably enjoy their meals.

Monday, 13 December 2021

ANGANWADI FEEDING SCHEME OF AKSHAYA PATRA

 

Anganwadi feeding programme of Akshaya Patra aims to provide the right nutrition to the women and children  and helps to reduce malnutrition and mortality among children. 

Thursday, 9 December 2021

Make this world a better place to live through midday meals

 

Midday meals open the gates to schools and paves way for aspirations of lakhs of children across India.

Education is one of the most potential gamechanger in eliminating the vicious cycle of poverty-hunger-illiteracy. To support education of children belonging to socio-economically challenging backgrounds, Government of India has initiated several education schemes. Alongside, the introduction of Mid-Day Meal Scheme for government schools and government-aided schools was a huge boon for children. Midday meal acts as an incentive for parents to send their children to school with the hope that children will receive at least one full meal for the day. Once at school, children inevitably get introduced to academic lessons and other developmental activities. This not only contributes to the literacy factor, but also enables children to hone their talents as well as instils a sense of confidence in them to achieve their aspirations.

Akshaya Patra Nourishes dreams of children


To maximise the benefits of Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO in India partnered with the Central Government of India and various State Governments to implement the scheme. Akshaya Patra is one of the pioneer NGOs that stepped in as an implementing partner with the vision “No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.” Headquartered in Bengaluru, Akshaya Patra has been providing freshly cooked, nutritious, and locally palatable meals to schoolchildren across India for the last 21 years.

 

Currently, Akshaya Patra feeds more than 18-lakh children,
on every school day across India.

By operating in a public-private partnership model, Akshaya Patra expanded its operations from one location in 2000 to 58 locations in 2021. The Foundation understands the significance of each plate of midday meal, hence takes utmost care in the preparation and delivery of these meals. It prepares the meals in its own state-of-the-art centralised kitchens and has its own delivery logistics to transport the meals to schools across 13 states and 1 Union Territory. To ensure highest quality meals, all the kitchens of Akshaya Patra follow industry standard operating processes with utmost adherence to cleanliness and hygiene practices. The kitchens follow a cyclic menu and prepare locally palatable meals in compliance with the dietary norms as stated by the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme.



 

Midday meal significantly impacts lives of children by directly contributing to their nutrition levels, health, and learning capacity.

Impact studies on Mid-Day Meal Programme reveals that consumption of regular school meals results in:


-          increased school enrolment

-          regularised attendance

-          decreased drop-out rate

-          improved health of children

-          better academic performance

-          continuity of schooling



This is clearly visible in the varied aspirations and strong determination of Akshaya Patra beneficiaries.

·         Sachin, a Standard VI student of Hanspal Primary School in Odisha aspires to be a pilot. He says, “Flying high gives you a whole different perspective in life. I know that being a pilot is difficult, but it is not impossible.”

·         Shyaali, a Standard VIII student of Ekaathmanagar School, Nagpur aspires to be a dentist. She says, “I do not lose my head over daily activities at home and school. I am more focussed now. My mom would have been happy if I was like this, two years back. For her, I will become a dentist one day and open my own clinic.”

·         Rajesh, a student of Chandrabaghabai Education Society, dreams of becoming a rap artist. He says, “No work is a task, if you do it wholeheartedly. And my heart beats to rap music. I want to be a rap artist. I know it is not all that easy and I don’t have a Bollywood background. But I will work very hard with all my heart and get to the top on my own.”

Support this NGO in India to expand its service and benefit more children with nutritious school meals.

One meal a day can do wonders for children and help them achieve what their heart desires. Together, let’s make the world a better place by ensuring regular and nutritious school meals. Contribute online donation and instantly make schooldays of children better.

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Akshaya Patra nourishes dreams of children

Childhood is a phase where we dream of becoming something big or being recognised; a doctor, engineer, lawyer, choreographer, singer, etc. Dreams will vary as we grow up and mature from childhood to adolescence. To achieve those dreams, as children we need to be focussed and that ability to focus in class comes from eating good food. A healthy meal helps us concentrate in class, stay focussed and helps by giving us the energy required to take part in classroom and co-curricular activities.

nourishing the dreams of children through midday meals


Realising the importance of meals and adequate nutrition for children, many schools have taken to providing school meals to children with additional school fees. However, there are some children who not only think schooling is expensive but think that rather than going to school, they can lend a helping hand with some extra income to the family.

The Government of India is working hard to help families realise the importance of education and schooling, which is a very challenging task. To help them reach out to a larger audience and the most remote locations, more than just one NGO in India come forward to extend their service.

 

Supporting dreams by implementing the Midday Meal Scheme

Midday meals are a great intervention to bring children to school. A simple meal becomes the reason why parents with low-income or people living below the poverty line, send their children to school. The major reason for sending their kids to school is so that they will be able to eat one proper meal a day at the least.

 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an implementing partner of the midday meal scheme. This NGO in India has been providing meals to school children in government andgovernment-aided schools for the last 20 years. On every day of school, children receive freshly prepared school lunch prepared in the kitchens of Akshaya Patra. The menu and ingredients are carefully chosen to meet the nutritional requirement of every child.

 

Children who love their midday meals

dreams of Divyanjali, Sachin, Roshni


Divyanjali, studies in a government school in Gujarat, Kalol. She lives with her father who paints houses for a living. She is very famous in her classroom for her painting skills. A young child like her idolised her father and dreamt of becoming a painter too. But exposure to an art museum changed her perspective. Today, she wants to become a well-known painter like Raja Ravi Varma.

She never wastes food and follows the values taught by her mother. Theplas are her favourite dish on the midday meal menu.

 

Sachin is a young boy from Odisha’s Hanspal Primary School. Before joining this school, he was a frail-looking child who had no energy to take part in co-curricular activities or sports. In the next three years of attending school regularly, today, he is a healthy and energetic child. He loves Akshaya Patra’s food so much that he says that it is better than what his mother cooks at home. Sachin and his mother are extremely grateful for Akshaya Patra as, without these meals, he wouldn’t survive.

 

Roshni from Odisha is a shy student who is very conscious about the way she looks; she has a white patch on her chin. The internet changed everything for her and today she is a confident girl who has accepted the flaw in her. She ensures that she eats the healthy meals provided to her at school as it is beneficial for her skin. She wants to become a Cosmetic surgeon so that she can treat more people like her.

 

So many children like them receive midday meals every day. These meals give them the hope of continuing their education so that they can achieve their dream one day. With the trust of millions of donors, they refer to Akshaya Patra as the best NGO in India to donate to. The stories of such beneficiaries speak a lot for the work that the Foundation does. You too can take care of some children with your donation. Your thoughtful contribution can feed children for a whole academic year.

What are you waiting for? Millions of children await to fulfil their dreams. Let’s support them. 

Monday, 6 December 2021

Akshaya Patra supports children’s education with midday meals

 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO in India that implements the Mid-Day Meal Programme. For the last 21 years, this non-profit organisation is serving nutritious school meals to children in India. The cycle of clean, prepare, cook, pack and deliver repeats every single day, without a stop.

Friday, 26 November 2021

Want to donate to a charity? You might benefit from it

 


The concept of giving has existed since time immemorial. It is deeply engraved in our systems that we should help one another and especially those who need support. People from all walks of life have been giving charities, be it a king, a philosopher or even common man; everyone makes contributions in some way or the other.

 According to a report by McKinsey & Co, till the 19th century, India practised religious giving that was motivated by the search for salvation. Slowly at the beginning of the 20th century, philanthropy was directed towards social causes.

 This slowly brought in the culture of the establishment of NGOs and foundations that worked to alleviate the suffering of people. Gradually, the number of people who donate to NGOs started increasing. People who were blessed with everything in life either chose to make in-kind donations or extend monetary support.

Not only did individuals start giving, established companies and organisations also started making corporate donations to NGOs to ensure that their money is utilised most effectively. Organisations work towards various causes like women empowerment, child education, healthcare of elderly, etc. Based on these causes, huge corporates set up charity wings or have Corporate giving as a part of their monetary funds.

 Not everyone is equipped with resources to begin their foundation. This is why most of them donate to NGOs. To encourage people to come forward and help people in need, India’s laws allow certain contributions to be eligible for deduction under the Income Tax Act. Though many people contribute, they don’t realise that they have made tax deductible donations. Many people donate because it was taught to them by their parents or so that they can change the lives of people in need. But, they don’t look at the tax benefit side of it. People who donate towards philanthropy can have the satisfaction of contributing to the society and simultaneously claim the benefit of these tax deductible donations.

 Benefits of making donations to a charity

By giving to a non-government organisation, you get the following benefits:

·         Satisfaction of doing a good deed

·         Happiness of changing lives of people

·         Tax benefits of donating to a registered NGO, benefitting from 80G deductions.

 Satisfaction of performing a good deed

Like someone said, true happiness stems from the joy of helping someone in need or by sharing what we have. When you help someone and see their face brighten up with a smile, it makes you happy because you are the reason they are so happy.

 Happiness of changing lives of people

Every single person fights hard to survive in this world. When you give to an NGO working towards a particular cause that you connect with, you bring a positive impact on the beneficiary. For example, by providing mid-day meals to children, you ensure that they get the right nutrition for their development.

 Tax benefits when you donate to NGOs

Apart from gaining satisfaction from helping someone, when you donate to a non-profit organisation, you benefit with 80g deduction under theIncome Tax Act, 1961. A few organisations provide 50% tax exemption and a few offer 100% tax exemption.

 One major benefit from donating to non-profit organisations is that it becomes easy to evaluate and monitor contributions. You can be assured of one thing, that even though you have done tax deductible donations, your donations will reach the person in need at the right time.

 The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO that is registered under Section 12A (a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Every donation (above ₹500) is eligible for tax exemption under section 80G. The Foundation is recognised as the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programme that serves freshly cooked nutritious mid-day meals to millions of children across the country.

 Every small contribution made towards the organisation can provide nutritious mid-day meals to school children studying in Government and Government-aided schools. These meals help them tackle classroom hunger while making them healthier and sharper at performing in their academics.