Meet Saraswathi, a 12-year-old Akshaya Patra beneficiary studying at one of our partner schools in Hubli, Karnataka. Saraswathi is a lively, hardworking pupil, who dreams of becoming a lawyer. She aspires to uphold the most vital aspect of the legal profession – honesty. She says; "I want to be a good lawyer. I will not accept bribes. I will stand …
Suchismita Nayak – A girl with a dream to be a police officer
It’s her calm, soft-spoken nature that compels us to talk to her at the Vijayanagar Project Primary School in Puri. She is a nine-year-old girl in fourth standard and her name is Suchismita Nayak. She is the eldest of three siblings, and the second born is studying at the same school in third standard. Suchismita’s father earns and manages the …
Mid-Day meal boosts girl child enrolment in a school
Till few years ago, 80 per cent people in Khudradadhi were mainly into agriculture. However, after the introduction of Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards, the scenario has changed. Since, now people get grains at subsidized prices, there has been a drift in occupations. Fishing, working in brick-kilns and going to the city as casual laborers are the prime occupations now. …
Mid-day meal boosts attendance at UBMC School in Bokkapatna
The UBMC Higher Primary School is located on the serene and well-kept premises of the Bokkapatna church in Mangaluru. Bokkapatna is located close to the sea and is home to many middle class and low income families. "Most of the families are predominantly engaged in fishing and selling of vegetables. Their main source of income is from fishing, while other …
A 5th Grader’s Verdict on the Mid-day Meal Menu
It’s early morning; Mrinmay is taking his only goat, Munnu, for grazing. He walks for a few kilometers, ties the goat near a pasture and returns home. This goat has been the only investment his parents have been able to make. Mrinmay Malakar, as the school register indicates, is a grade 5 student at the Khudradadhi Lower Primary School, 12 …
On being a student, a daughter and a school topper
"Globally, close to 1.1 billion people lack access to electricity and 300 million of this deprived lot live in India, by far the highest share of any single country." (CEEW Report, 2015) It’s just another day for her; she reaches school around 9 am, completes any pending homework, attends the morning assembly and gets on with Std VIII classes for …