In the iron oxide-covered reddish town of Toranagallu, Bellari, Karnataka, the corridors of Government Higher Secondary School (GHS) echoed with the sounds of children reciting their daily morning prayers.  Among the many students standing in the corridor was Siddiqa, a 9th grader with a deep passion for education and a dream that transcends her life. Siddiqa's journey is a beautiful blend of family support and the positive influence of community initiatives like Akshaya Patra.

Siddiqa lives with her grandparents. Speaking about her family, Siddiqa says, “My parents stay in Hosapet. They work hard to support the family. My mother, Razia Begum, and my father, Subaniyam, are daily wage workers. My younger brother is in  4th  class and studies in a Madarsa. My first sister is in 6th  grade, while my second sister is in 2nd  grade at an Urdu school. They all stay in Hosapet with my parents. I live here with my grandparents," Siddiqa explains. "On holidays, I stay with my parents," she shares. 

Talking about her aspirations, Siddiqa says, “I aspire to become an Urdu teacher. I go to ‘Madarsa’ every Friday. My teacher saw potential in me and encouraged me to become a teacher. Since then, I have dreamed of teaching Urdu and spreading knowledge." Siddiqa ensures that after school, she gives enough time to study Urdu and improve her proficiency in her favourite language. She says. “After school, I go home and help my grandmother finish daily chores. Once done, I complete my homework and then learn Urdu. I study for an hour and retire to bed early.” 

Siddiqa is a beneficiary of Akshaya Patra’s school feeding programme. She receives hot, tasty and nutritious meals every school day. Speaking of it, she says, “The rice and rasam are my favourites. My family supports Akshaya Patra food because it contains vegetables and is healthy.” But that is not the only connection she has with Akshaya Patra. Apparently, her grandmother, Sharifa Ji, worked at Akshaya Patra for a good period. "My grandmother worked with Akshaya Patra for 16 years since 2006. She was a helper in the Bellari kitchen and left three years ago due to age," Siddiqa reminisces.

Sharifa Ji's long tenure at Akshaya Patra has profoundly impacted Siddiqa's family. "For 16 years, my grandmother helped prepare the meals that Akshaya Patra provides to school children," Siddiqa says with pride. "I visited the Akshaya Patra kitchen with my grandmother. I saw the cold room where vegetables were stored. The aunties in blue-coloured sarees were cooking food, which was such a joyful experience," Siddiqa recalls with a smile. Seeing the process first-hand made her appreciate the hard work that goes into ensuring that children receive healthy meals at school. 

Akshaya Patra’s school feeding programme ensures that 2.25 million children like Siddiqa receive hot and nutritious meals daily. The meals provided by Akshaya Patra are an effort to implement PM POSHAN  Abhiyaan in government schools across India. These efforts align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-2: zero hunger and SDG-4: provide quality education). The meals ensure that children can concentrate in class, stay energetic throughout the day and work hard to achieve their dreams