Stories of Teachers

"If not for the Akshaya Patra meal, the school would have had to close down because of very low enrolment and retention of students", says Ms. Subhansu Banapattanaik, the Head Mistress of Beatrix Primary School in Puri. She adds that parents of most of the children at her school are daily wage labourers like rickshaw pullers, construction workers, roadside vendors, housemaids, etc. and they do not always get to eat the varieties of food supplied by Akshaya Patra.

"Akshaya Patra has indeed helped us," says Vasantha Kumari. According to this Head Mistress of Maharani Girl High School in Bangalore, things have changed drastically for most of the teachers and children that she works with. She speaks of how regular food has helped reduce the number of children suffering from hyper-acidity in her school. More...

Before Akshaya Patra implemented the mid-day meal program in Sechan Primary School of Puri, the enrolment was very poor and stood at 140 students in 2006. Today it has more than doubled and stands at around 300 students. More importantly, the attendance has improved; it is 90% on most days. Children eagerly look forward to the Akshaya Patra meal. "Once the children get enrolled, having been attracted by the meal; we know how to retain them and make them study well," says Mr. Prasanna Mishra, headmaster of the school. He adds that, if not for the Akshaya Patra meal, the children would have gone hungry many a time.

Mr. Bhagirathi Mohapatra, the Head Master of Samangara Primary School in Puri says that before the advent of the mid-day meal, the attendance was very poor. Now it is about 90%. He attributes this mainly to the Akshaya Patra meal, which has also improved the health of the students. He adds that even in times of food shortage and high prices, the meal is of high quality and contains vegetables in sufficient quantity. He said that there is a very good system of follow-up by the Akshaya Patra team.