Flashback to five years ago
“Ugh! I am not able to move! How will I wake up from the bed, get ready and go to school? If I don’t go again, I will not be able to cope with what’s being taught in class,” Hamsa thought. The mattress she slept on seemed to be pricking her like sharp needles and the pain was unbearable. This is her story every single day. 

But the pain does not demotivate her and she is determinant to go to school at least thrice a week. Her routine every day is very minimal; she wakes up in the morning, gets ready and walks to school that is 2 kilometres away. Sometimes when there is leftover rice or kanji, she eats drinks it plain without adding anything to it. On other days, she ties a cloth around her stomach as there is no food at home and begins her journey to school. Her parents cannot afford buying ration every month and their expenses outweigh their income at times.

Cut to present
Hamsa wakes up from the bed with no pain in her body. Gone are those days when she used to take five minutes to get up from the bed because her body did not have the energy. She gets ready within minutes and reaches her school within half an hour. Hamsa is a strong girl who emanates positivity in everything that she does. 

Hamsa, a young child who suffered from malnourishment five years ago, is a strong young woman today with big dreams. 

She is a 13-year-old student from Prathamika Unnatha Patashala’s 8th standard in Bandalagooda Mandalam village in Telangana. Only she and her parents know how much they struggled, their financial situation was very evident because there was usually nothing to eat at home.

Hamsa narrates the story of how her life changed for the better. “One day, my aunt came to see us. She had tears when she saw me lying on the bed struggling to wake up. She took me to see a doctor. She is rich and had the money to spare for the consultation, which is why we never went to see one. He told me I was fine, just that I had to get enough nutrition, vitamins and minerals. When asked what had happened to me, he said it was a clear case of malnourishment.”

Children grow at a rapid stage. Vitamins and minerals are essential for their growth and development; if these are not met, they can become malnourished.

“All thanks to the meals they provide at school. My parents were happy that at least one person in the family is able to eat good food. Sometimes I feel like my parents also should eat Akshaya Patra’s meals, but they don’t let my parents come to eat food,” says a disappointed Hamsa. She quickly changes the topic to add,
“My favourite food is Pulihora and Pappu, because I don’t get to eat at home.”

She continues to narrate a small story. “Once in the afternoon, I heard someone outside the kitchen. I hinted at my mother saying, “Amma! Donga” and hinted outside. I wondered what attracted him in my house; we had nothing. Then I realised he shouldn’t be doing this in the first place. I quickly took the front exit and ran to call my neighbours for help. They caught him and we all tied him to the kitchen grills and reported him to the police who was a woman.” “From that day, I have wanted to be a Police Officer too; never know which person will get help like I did that day” she adds.

Little children also dream big.
For them it is not about making money, it is about helping people in need. Carry this spirit forward by supporting many such children who are in need of healthy meals with Akshaya Patra.