Bengaluru: Healthcare company provides dry ration kits

Bengaluru: The economic impact of the pandemic has pushed millions, especially children, into severe hunger and malnutrition. The underprivileged and migrant communities were the worst hit. To provide food and other essentials to the people affected by the pandemic, Himalaya, an Indian multinational healthcare company, has teamed up with The Akshaya Patra Foundation and reached out to communities in Bellary, Karnataka. The company sponsored 7,146 'Happiness Kits' or dry ration and has contributed approximately Rs. 4 crore for the Mid-Day Meal Program, since 2016. Through this donation, over 36,300 children have benefited, and 80 lakh mid-day meals have been served. Incidentally, the largest schoolchildren feeding program is run by The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Commenting on the initiative, Jayashree Ullal, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, The Himalaya Drug Company, "Himalaya has always had a strong will to undertake community service. In collaboration with Akshaya Patra, We aim to bring joy into the lives of children through the distribution of 'Happiness Kits'. We hope these kits will provide children and their families the much-needed nourishment to stay healthy and safe. Our aim is to provide essential nutrition for the overall growth and development of children. Our partnership with Akshaya Patra is a significant step towards making a sustainable impact on the development of underprivileged communities through initiatives in health, education, and hygiene."

The company claims it support a plethora of causes by planting 800,000 saplings through numerous plantation drives, distribution of hygiene kits and food support to over 50,000 individuals, including tribal communities, transgenders, migrant workers, and other distraught communities, supported around 330 individuals by providing them with customized artificial limbs and wheelchairs and many other initiatives. Shridhar Venkat, CEO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, "We are grateful to Himalaya for their generous contribution towards the noble goal of providing nutritious mid-day meals to millions of children over the years. A recent study shows that India lags in the Human Development Index and has a severely malnourished population. Covid-19 has only exacerbated the situation. With donors such as Himalaya, we are confident of making significant progress in eliminating hunger and malnutrition by 2025, the year we will achieve a landmark milestone of having served 5 billion meals. Such acts of kindness from donors help us sustain our mission."