Criticality of NGO Role in India

T h e A k s h a y a P a t r a F o u n d a t i o n

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The current scenario of poverty, hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy and many related issues implies

the critical NGO role in India. As is true in global scenario that NGOs are playing a vital role in

countering various issues related to social, environmental, health and rights, so is true in case of

India too. The Government of India has initiated many different schemes and programmes in

order to bring about a change in the socio-economic, health, education and many such factors.

One among them is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. This Scheme is aimed to providing cooked mid-

day meal to children of government schools and government-aided schools. This Scheme works

as a supporting pillar for Government initiated education schemes to attain 100% literacy.

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is a nationwide programme and approximately 10.45 crore children

in 11.58 lakh schools benefits from this Scheme according to 2013-14 estimate. Considering the

implementation of mid-day meal in Karnataka, AkshayaPatra in Bangalore has been one of the

key implementers in the state. AkshayaPatrabegan providing cooked mid-day meal at five

schools in the city in June 2000. The response from the beneficiary schools and the enquiries

from the neighbouring schools clearly indicated that need for mid-day meal at schools.

The Government of India also witnessed the need of NGO participation in implementation of

such a huge programme. Thus, the role of NGO in India to implement the Mid-Day Meal

Scheme turned out to be vital because NGOs can make available the benefits of this Scheme at

the grass root level of the society, and thats where the actual transformation begins. Since

2000, AkshayaPatra in Bangalore has been serving mid-day meal to government school

children. Apart from Bangalore, AkshayaPatra covers four locations to provide mid-day meal in

Karnataka namely Mysuru, Hubballi, Ballari and Mangaluru. Since its inception, AkshayaPatra

has been very strategic in its expansion plans so as to ensure sustainability of the programme. It

fathomed the significance of its work as an implementer of a nationwide programme and thus

furthering its service, AkshayaPatra expanded its operations in nine other states during 15

years. Currently, the impact of this NGO role in Indiais felt among more than 1.4 million

children residing across 24 locations.

Studies conducted by AkshayaPatra in association with third party assessors to assess the

impact of mid-day meal in Karnataka and the other beneficiary states have shown results

indicating improved attendance and concentration among children, reduction in classroom

hunger, increase in enrolment and retention thereby lowering drop-out rates. This further

indicate the importance of sustainability of the feeding programme along with indicating that

we need to expand the programme to benefit more children. The NGO role in India thus

becomes even more challenging and at the same time accomplishing too. But social change

requires social participation too and hence AkshayaPatraprovides ample volunteering

opportunities. Get involve with the organisation to see how you can participate in providing

mid-day meal. Your support towards even a single child is the beginning for a wave of change.

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