How can hunger be eradicated from India? |
Posted: October 31, 2018 |
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” – Mother Teresa Hunger is a critical issue across the globe and it has affected India too. Even though access to food is one of the most basic rights of people, yet millions go hungry every passing day. Reports suggest that there is enough food produced globally, but still the issue of hunger haunts all categories of nations – developed, developing, and under-developed. It is quite disheartening to witness that on one hand India receives the acclamation of being one of the most promising nation in the world, and on the other hand, it ranks 100th among 119 countries in Global Hunger Index 2017 thereby falling under the ‘serious’ range. Hunger in India Disheartening, but here are some statistics on the situation of hunger in India that the country is battling at the moment:
Hunger – a roadblock in the nation’s progress Needless to say, hunger in India is a major block in the progress of the country. Hunger leads to illiteracy, poor health, and dependency on fellow citizens. Hunger pushes young children in to the world of labour thereby depriving them of education. Unhealthy and uneducated people are not skilled and resourceful enough to contribute to the country’s development thereby turning them into a bane rather than a boon for the country. Among the many causes of the current situation of hunger in India, the key ones are: the vicious cycle of unemployment-poverty-illiteracy; and inaccessibility to food. Addressing the issue and to ensure right to food for each citizen, the Government of India has initiated several schemes and programmes to eliminate hunger from the grass root level. Solving hunger from grass root level As mentioned earlier, the Government of India has initiated various programmes to address the issue of hunger. Here are a few that will ensure that hunger is eliminated right from the grass root level: Anganwadi feeding, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and the National Nutrition Mission. The Government in partnership with NGOs are implementing these schemes across the country. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one of the NGO’s in India that is working in partnership with the government to serve hungry children by implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme as its core cause and the Anganwadi programme as its subsidiary cause.
Akshaya Patra is one of the first NGO’s in India to start implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. This NGO is currently providing freshly cooked, wholesome mid-day meals to more than 1.76 million children in 39 locations across 12 states of India, on each school day. This programme counters classroom hunger by providing much-needed school meals to hungry children.
With the aim to provide a healthy foundation right from the formative years of children, Akshaya Patra began providing nutritious meals in Anganwadi centres. Through this the NGO is currently providing healthy meals in 4,786 Anganwadi centres in nine locations of five states of India. It caters to 1,61,410 young children in the age group of 3 years to 6 years and more than 6,000 pregnant and lactating mothers. Act to eradicate hunger in India Studies reveal that these programmes have contributed to healthy growth among children of socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These programmes have also positively impacted nutrition level, and education of children. But, the efforts of the government and of the NGOs can reach complete fruition only when every member of the society actively involve themselves to end hunger. Wouldn’t it be a matter of pride to say, ‘I belong to a hunger-free nation’? Use your power, support Akshaya Patra. Donate today. “Wishing good, merely, is a lukewarm charity; but doing good is divine.” - James Lendall Basford. Author Profile: The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a mid-day meal NGO in India serving more than 1.76 million children across 12 states of India. By implementing this Scheme and the Anganwadi feeding programme, the NGO aims at eliminating hunger in a sustainable way.
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