The nourishment we require as a human being in order to sustain our cells' life and feed them is known as nutrition. It fosters human growth and development, which is the expansion of all human beings' physical and psychological dimensions. Proper nutrition promotes healthy living and barricades infectious diseases, whereas poor nutrition exposes one to communicable diseases, health conditions, stunted growth and development, and some psychological difficulties.
Evidently, a proper nutrition is particularly important in children since it can affect their mental growth, which otherwise can damage their overall well-being. Just as every individual requires appropriate nutrition for general body growth, some people require it more than others due to their physical and psychological vulnerability. These people include pregnant women, lactating and nursing mothers, toddlers and growing children. Essential nutrition is needed at this critical time to facilitate standard progression of all-round development.
When children are not fed an adequate diet in both quantity and quality, they may suffer from illnesses that impact their growth, or in worst case scenarios, lead to mortality. In many countries, children suffer from malnutrition owing to poverty, which is one of the leading reasons for infant and child mortality.
Concept of Nutrition
Nutrition is concerned with the types of food we consume and their amount and quality. When the amount consumed is not proportionate, it results in inadequate nutrition, which is harmful to one's health.
Evidently, each food type has its own nutritional value, which performs a particular function in the body metabolism as well as the development, dependent on the amount of them combined correctly.
Classes of Food
Proper nutrition boosts the body's immunity to certain illnesses. When treated to a balanced diet, it aids in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A balanced diet is one that includes foods from all dietary groups in appropriate proportions.
Importance of Child Development
The age of early childhood development is recognised as the most essential phase of life. This is critical because children require complete support from their family in order to realise their full potential. The child's brain builds complex neural networks at an unparalleled rate during the first three years following birth, resulting in fast mental growth and development. The brain has grown to 90% of adult size by the age of six.
Early childhood development has a direct impact on a child's long-term health outcomes, as well as future possibilities, school attainment, and even earning potential.
How to Support Healthy Child Development
Without a question, school plays an important role in the socio-economic development of society. It is a place where children of different backgrounds come together to form a culture of unity and fraternity. Their school education prepares them to achieve their goals and be successful in life.
However, the children in government schools, come from low-income families. Some students are forced to earn over pursuing their education due to financial concerns. This is where the true significance of a midday meal becomes apparent. The mid-day meal, under the Government’s PM Poshan Abhiyaan, is designed to entice parents to send their children to school. They can ensure that their children receive at least one healthy meal every day.
Akshaya Patra’s Role in Child Development
Akshaya Patra has always strived to ensure that children have sustained access to food and nutrition through initiatives such as the PM Poshan Abhiyaan (previously known as MDM Scheme) and Anganwadi feeding programme.
The Foundation has always endeavoured to uphold children’s Right to Food and Right to Education by serving them freshly cooked, nutritious and hygienic mid-day meals every school day. Over 2 million children benefit from the school lunch every day. If hunger is a barrier to education and consequently, a better life, the mid-day meal represents hope.
Over the years, the assurance of a meal has prompted many people to send their children to school to get an education instead of sending them to work to support the family. The mid-day meal has played a crucial role in bringing millions of children to the classroom, thus giving them a chance to break the vicious cycle of poverty. It has helped promote socialisation and gender equality.
The assurance of a meal doesn’t just bring children to school but also contributes to their health and wellbeing by taking care of their nutritional requirements. In the NGO’s capacity as the implementing partner of the MDM Programme, it has always strived to provide children a diversified and nutrient-rich staple to enhance their nutritional and health status.
Over the years, the transformation the mid-day meal or MDM programme has brought about in the lives of many children, their families and the community as a whole has been a testimony of the programme’s benefits.
Now you can also feed the needy and help further these initiatives and provide employment nutritious meals by contributing online to Akshaya Patra’s cause.
When you contribute to Akshaya Patra, you also become eligible to gain tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act as the Foundation is registered under Section 12A of the Act.
All online donations over ₹500 to Akshaya Patra are eligible for a 50% tax deduction and donors will receive a tax exemption donation certificate as proof to claim 80G deductions. Donate now!
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